Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2001 Jul;44(7):1248-1255.

Effects of Oral administration of Iron Supplements During Pregnancy on Maternal Hemoglobin Levels and Birth Weights

• Yang YS
• Oh KY
• Park MH
• Hwang IT
• Jeong JH
• Park JS

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study was performed to evaluate the effects of oral administration of iron supplements during pregnancy on maternal hemoglobin concentrations and birth weights. METHOD: Data from clinical records of 141 pregnant women and their babies were analysed. Studied mothers were classified to 3 groups such as non iron supplement group (groupI), 2-3 months supplement group (group II), and over 4 months supplement group (group III) by the duration (months) of oral supplement prescribed.
RESULTS
There was positive correlation between hemoglobin levels and iron supplement duration. Proportions of anemia showed decreasing basis with the increasing iron supplement duration. The maternal hemoglobin levels showed decreasing basis with the increasing birth weight. There was positive correlation between iron supplement duration and maternal hemoglobin levels, but there was no significant correlation between iron supplement duration and birth weight. For the groupI(non-supplement group), maternal hemoglobin levels were decreased with the increasing birth weight but there was no significant correlations between hemoglobin levels and birth weights with increased iron supplement duration.
CONCLUSION
There was a significant inverse correlation between maternal hemoglobin levels and birth weight in non-iron supplement group but there was no significant correlations between hemoglobin levels and birth weights with increased iron supplement duration.

Keyword

Iron Supplements; Maternal hemoglobin; Anemia; Birth weight

MeSH Terms

Administration, Oral*
Anemia
Birth Weight*
Female
Humans
Iron*
Mothers
Parturition*
Pregnancy*
Pregnant Women
Iron