title: Strategies to prevent iron deficiency and improve reproductive health.
abstract: Anemia and iron deficiency affect billions of people worldwide, especially women of reproductive age, pregnant women, and young children. Many countries have iron and folic acid supplementation programs for pregnant women. However, the impact of these programs is uncertain. Multiple-micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy has been advocated; however, it is unclear whether this has additional advantages. Overall, programs have shown only modest impact on increasing birth weight. This review discusses the present state of knowledge on interventions to improve iron status during pregnancy and reproductive health, and investigates other possibilities such as supplementation prior to conception to improve maternal and child health.
authors: Institut de Recherche pour Développement, Montpellier, France. Jacques.Berger@ird.fr
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Berger
authors: Frank T
authors: FT
authors: Wieringa
authors: Annie
authors: A
authors: Lacroux
authors: Marjoleine A
authors: MA
authors: Dijkhuizen
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D060728:Reproductive Health
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005492:Folic Acid