title: [Association between iron supplementation during pregnancy and prematurity, low birth weight, and very low birth weight].
abstract: The objective was to evaluate the association between prophylactic iron supplementation and prematurity and low birth weight. Pregnant women 20 years and older with 21 to 28 weeks of gestational age were enrolled consecutively in prenatal services in the Unified National Health System in six Brazilian State capitals between 1991 and 1995. Socio-demographic data and information on iron supplementation up until the 28th gestational week were obtained by means of an interview. Outcomes and other variables were collected from medical records. Anemia was present in 31.3% of the 3,865 women. Among anemic women (hemoglobin < 11.0g/dL), 29.8% were taking iron supplements, as compared to 16.7% among non-anemic women (hemoglobin > or = 11.0g/dL). After adjusting for potential confounders, iron was not associated with prematurity (OR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.73-1.07), low birth weight (OR = 0.99; 95%CI: 0.75-1.31), or very low birth weight (OR = 0.58; 95%CI: 0.29-1.13). The results suggest that iron supplementation up to the 28th gestational week does not reduce the risk of prematurity, low birth weight, or very low birth weight.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil. tatiane.silva@ufrgs.br
authors.forename: Tatiane da Silva
authors.initials: Tda S
authors.lastname: Dal Pizzol
authors.forename: Elsa Regina Justo
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Giugliani
authors.forename: Sotero Serrate
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mengue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007501:Iron