[Iron requirements and iron balance during pregnancy. Is iron supplementation needed for pregnant women?].
Among fertile, nonpregnant, Danish women, 33% have absent or reduced iron stores; 22% have serum ferritin values above 70 micrograms/l, i.e., iron reserves of more than 530 mg, corresponding to the net iron losses during a normal pregnancy. During pregnancy, the demands for absorbed iron increase from 0.8 to 7.5 mg/day. Controlled studies show that iron-treated pregnant women have higher serum ferritin levels, i.e., larger iron stores, and higher haemoglobin levels than placebo-treated women. A supplement of 66 mg ferrous iron daily from the beginning of the 2nd trimester prevents iron deficiency anaemia. In Denmark, general iron prophylaxis with 60-70 mg ferrous iron daily from 20 weeks of gestation is recommended by the health authorities.
Milman
N
N
Medicinsk afdeling, Centralsygehuset i Naestved.
Bergholt
T
T
Eriksen
L
L
Ahring
K
K
Graudal
N A
NA
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron