The effect of multiple micronutrients supplementation on preventing anemia during pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of Multiple Micronutrient (MMN) Supplements during pregnancy in reducing the risk of anemia among pregnant women.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with the supplement of Folic Acid (FA) only and FA plus MMN groups. Data was collected through questionnaires during the first prenatal visit. Hemoglobin levels were extracted from the Laboratory Information System. A total of 4,239 pregnant women who were admitted to Beijing Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital between May 2017 and November 2020 was evaluated. Chi-square tests and log-binomial regression were conducted to evaluate the relative risks (RRs) of two groups on the reduction of anemia during pregnancy.

RESULTS

The supplement of MMN was found to significantly decrease the risk of anemia in the later stages of pregnancy. Focusing on the third trimester specifically, the crude RR and adjusted RR were 0.891 and 0.844 respectively. In the second and third trimester of pregnancy, a sufficient monthly intake frequency of MMN(≥ 24 pills) is associated with a lower relative risk of anemia, with a value of 0.897 and 0.809 compared to the group supplement FA only.

CONCLUSIONS

The supplement of MMN has been correlated with a reduced risk of anemia in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. But the efficacy was limited in the first trimester. Frequent and early initiation of supplementation with FA and MMN pills is associated with a more significant reduction in the risk of anemia compare to group supplement of FA only.