Evaluation of effectiveness of iron-folate supplementation and anthelminthic therapy against anemia in pregnancy--a study in the plantation sector of Sri Lanka.
Intervention measures against anemia available to plantation workers during pregnancy include fortified food supplements (thriposha) and iron-folate supplements containing 60 mg elemental Fe. The effectiveness of these intervention measures was studied in 195 subjects whose iron and nutritional status were assessed at < 24 and > 32 wk of gestation. Taking thriposha conferred no significant benefit on maternal nutritional status, probably because sufficient amounts were not consumed. An increase in the duration of iron-folate supplementation to > 17 wk caused a significant positive change (P < 0.01) in hemoglobin, whereas an increase in the dose frequency had no significant benefit. Anthelminthic therapy in addition to iron-folate supplements caused a significant positive change in hemoglobin (P < 0.001) and serum ferritin (P < 0.005) compared with no supplementation. Thus, anthelminthic therapy significantly increased the beneficial effects of iron supplementation on hemoglobin concentration and iron status.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.
T M
TM
Atukorala
L D
LD
de Silva
W H
WH
Dechering
T S
TS
Dassenaeike
R S
RS
Perera
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000097:blood; D013188:Sri Lanka
D000871:Anthelmintics; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron