title: [Hemoglobin curves during pregnancy before and after fortification of flours with iron].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the level of hemoglobin-Hb during pregnancy before and after fortification of flours with iron.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study with data from 12,119 pregnant women attended at a public prenatal from five macro regions of Brazil. The sample was divided into two groups: Before-fortification (birth before June/2004) and After-fortification (last menstruation after June/2005). Hb curves were compared with national and international references. Polynomial regression models were built, with a significance level of 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the higher levels of Hb in all gestational months after-fortification, the polynomial regression did not show the fortification effect (p=0.3). Curves in the two groups were above the references in the first trimester, with following decrease and stabilization at the end of pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the fortification effect was not confirmed, the study presents variation of Hb levels during pregnancy, which is important for assistencial practice and evaluation of public policies.
authors: Epidemiology Department, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil, sah@usp.br.
authors: Ana Paula Sayuri
authors: AP
authors: Sato
authors: Nursing School, Department of Public Health Nursing, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Fujimori
authors: Public Health Faculty, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors: Sophia Cornbluth
authors: SC
authors: Szarfarc
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005433:Flour; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D007501:Iron