Intermittent iron and folic acid supplementation in non-anaemic pregnant women
Over 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic, with at least half of this percentage due to iron deficiency.
Pregnant women require additional iron and folic acid to meet their own nutritional needs as well as those of the developing fetus. As a result, pregnant women may have an insufficient amount of these nutrients. Deficiencies in iron and folic acid during pregnancy can potentially negatively impact the health of the mother, her pregnancy, as well as fetal development.
WHO recommends that non-anaemic pregnant women receive intermittent iron and folic acid supplementation to prevent anaemia and to improve pregnancy outcomes.
WHO documents
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Intermittent iron and folic acid supplementation in non-anaemic pregnant women
Status: published
Publication year: 2012
Approved by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee
Evidence
Cochrane reviews
- Intermittent oral iron supplementation during pregnancy
- Effects and safety of preventive oral iron or iron+folic acid supplementation for women during pregnancy
- Effects and safety of periconceptional folate supplementation for preventing birth defects
Systematic review
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Effect of routine iron supplementation with or without folic acid on anemia during pregnancy
Yakoob MY, Bhutta ZA
BMC Public Health, 2011, 11(suppl 3):S21.