title: Serum ferritin levels after multivitamin iron ingestion during teenage pregnancy.
abstract: The postabsorptive serum ferritin levels following normal dosages of prenatal multivitamin/multimineral supplements were studied in 17 pregnant teenagers, whose fetuses were between 16 and 20 weeks gestational age. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of a single oral dose of differing prenatal multivitamin/multimineral tablets containing 60 or 65 mg of elemental iron on the postabsorptive serum ferritin levels. Each woman was randomly tested following the ingestion of one of three different tablets, both in a fed and a fasting state. Blood samples were obtained for ferritin measurement immediately prior to ingestion of the prenatal tablet, with or without a standard meal, and at 1, 3, 6, and 8 hours postabsorption. The group mean serum ferritin levels increased dramatically during the fasting state following ingestion of the Stuart Prenatal tablet and decreased when the Stuartnatal 1 + 1 or Materna 1.60 was ingested. The opposite results were observed when the tablets were ingested postprandially. The results of the study indicate that Stuart Prenatal was most suitable for consumption while fasting (ie, at the hour of sleep), and both Stuartnatal 1 + 1 and Materna 1.60 with a meal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: McGanity
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014815:Vitamins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron