A comparative trial of haematinic supplements in pregnancy

Four haematinic supplements--Slow-Fe, FGF, Ferro-Gradumet and Ferro-Grad tfolic--were prospectively studied in 103 healthy pregnant patients. Significant differences in the mean cell counts, haematocrit values, haemoglobin levels, iron-binding capacities and serum folate levels were noted. The changes paralleled the elemental iron present in the compount. In this series, side effects principally vomiting and constipation, were more frequent in the lower dose iron group. Form both the haematological status aspect and the lack of side effects, Ferro-Grad Folic and Ferro-Gradumet were superior to both FGF and Slow-Fe (old formulation).