Effect of Different Levels of Iron Supplementation on Maternal Iron Status and Pregnancy Outcome

Abstract

Iron deficiency and resultant anaemia are recognized public health problems in India. In pregnant women particularly, the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia exceeds 80 per cent. It is directly or indirectly responsible for about 20 per cent of maternal deaths and is also a significant contributor to fetal wastage, premature births and low infant birth weight. To combat this problem, the government of India initiated the National Nutritional Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme (NNAPP) under which pregnant women are provided with a daily supplement of 60 mg elemental iron tablet for 100 days. This supplement did not improve iron status of the mother (haemoglobin, serum ferritin) and increase the birth weight as per expectation.