Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
08:45
Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
Iron and folate supplementation in pregnancy
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box A178, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe. kmahomed@healthnet.zw
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|May 5, 2000
Summary
Routine iron and folate supplementation effectively prevents low hemoglobin in pregnant women. However, its impact on maternal and fetal outcomes remains unclear, especially in regions with high deficiency rates.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Pregnancy anemia is a significant global health issue, particularly in developing nations.
- It is linked to nutritional deficiencies, malaria, and parasitic infections, increasing maternal and perinatal risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of routine iron and folate supplementation during pregnancy.
- Assessed effects on hematological and biochemical markers and pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of eight controlled trials involving 5,449 pregnant women.
- Searched Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register and contacted study authors.
Main Results:
- Supplementation improved iron and folate levels, significantly reducing anemia in late pregnancy.
- No discernible effects were observed on key maternal or fetal outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Iron and folate supplementation appears to prevent low hemoglobin at delivery.
- Limited data exists on other maternal/fetal outcomes, especially in high-risk populations.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:30Vitamins
Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Various diagnostic tests are employed in the diagnostic process for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), particularly to differentiate between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the colonic...
01:20Sulfur Assimilation
Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
01:24Microbes and Other Elemental Cycles
Microbial activity plays a pivotal role in the biogeochemical cycling of iron and manganese, especially at the redox gradients characteristic of stratified aquatic environments. These cycles are driven by microbial transformations between oxidized and reduced forms of the metals, allowing organisms to exploit them for metabolic energy and structural purposes.Iron Cycling Across Redox GradientsIn neutral, oxygen-rich surface waters, iron is predominantly found in its oxidized, insoluble ferric...
01:28Development of the Oral Microbiota
The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...