Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases
Abstract Background A recent cohort study among Papua New Guinean women surprisingly showed iron deficiency during pregnancy to be associated with increased birth weight. These findings seemingly contradict previous trial evidence that iron supplementation leads to increased birth weight, particular...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-019-1375-9 |
| _version_ | 1819207309033734144 |
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| author | Hans Verhoef Martin N. Mwangi Carla Cerami Andrew M. Prentice |
| author_facet | Hans Verhoef Martin N. Mwangi Carla Cerami Andrew M. Prentice |
| author_sort | Hans Verhoef |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A recent cohort study among Papua New Guinean women surprisingly showed iron deficiency during pregnancy to be associated with increased birth weight. These findings seemingly contradict previous trial evidence that iron supplementation leads to increased birth weight, particularly in iron-deficient women, and hence require explanation. Main text We have re-analysed data from a previous trial in Kenya and demonstrated that, because women who were initially iron deficient respond better to iron supplementation, they show an increase in birthweight. There is evidence that this benefit is decreased in iron-replete women, possibly due to the adverse effects of haemoconcentration that can impair oxygen and nutrient transfer across the placenta. The Papua New Guinean results might be explained by a similar differential response to the iron supplements that they all received. Conclusions Antenatal iron supplementation should ideally be administered in conjunction with measures to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria given the propensity of pathogenic microorganisms to proliferate in iron-supplemented individuals. However, even where services to prevent and treat malaria are poor, current evidence supports the conclusion that the benefits of universal iron supplementation outweigh its risks. Please see related article: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1146-z . Please see related article: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-019-1376-8 . |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:21:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ca9857498b0455193efad63e4b10030 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1741-7015 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-23T05:21:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ca9857498b0455193efad63e4b100302022-12-21T17:58:42ZengBMCBMC Medicine1741-70152019-07-011711410.1186/s12916-019-1375-9Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseasesHans Verhoef0Martin N. Mwangi1Carla Cerami2Andrew M. Prentice3Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen UniversityCell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen University and ResearchDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen UniversityDivision of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen UniversityAbstract Background A recent cohort study among Papua New Guinean women surprisingly showed iron deficiency during pregnancy to be associated with increased birth weight. These findings seemingly contradict previous trial evidence that iron supplementation leads to increased birth weight, particularly in iron-deficient women, and hence require explanation. Main text We have re-analysed data from a previous trial in Kenya and demonstrated that, because women who were initially iron deficient respond better to iron supplementation, they show an increase in birthweight. There is evidence that this benefit is decreased in iron-replete women, possibly due to the adverse effects of haemoconcentration that can impair oxygen and nutrient transfer across the placenta. The Papua New Guinean results might be explained by a similar differential response to the iron supplements that they all received. Conclusions Antenatal iron supplementation should ideally be administered in conjunction with measures to prevent, diagnose and treat malaria given the propensity of pathogenic microorganisms to proliferate in iron-supplemented individuals. However, even where services to prevent and treat malaria are poor, current evidence supports the conclusion that the benefits of universal iron supplementation outweigh its risks. Please see related article: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-018-1146-z . Please see related article: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-019-1376-8 .http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-019-1375-9AnaemiaBirthweightIronMalariaPlasmodiumPregnancy |
| spellingShingle | Hans Verhoef Martin N. Mwangi Carla Cerami Andrew M. Prentice Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases BMC Medicine Anaemia Birthweight Iron Malaria Plasmodium Pregnancy |
| title | Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases |
| title_full | Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases |
| title_fullStr | Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases |
| title_short | Antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases |
| title_sort | antenatal iron supplementation and birth weight in conditions of high exposure to infectious diseases |
| topic | Anaemia Birthweight Iron Malaria Plasmodium Pregnancy |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-019-1375-9 |
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