Effectiveness of weekly iron supplementation in anemia in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Iron deficiency has been a serious health issue especially in pregnancy. Various studies now consider daily iron as an excessive source of iron supply. In present study we compare effectiveness of daily verses weekly iron treatment. It was a randomized longitudinal study. Study included 110 pregnant anemic women attending out patient department of Gyne and Obs, CHK receiving 200 mg ferrous sulfate daily or weekly [n=55 in each group]. Overall 80% patients completed the study. 76% in daily group while 83% in wkly group completed the study. Hb conc., SFC, RBC count, Red cell indices and reticulocyte count were assessed to compare the effectiveness of two regimens. Hb was determined using the cyanmethemoglobin method. SFC was determined using a commercial kit [Enzymun-Test Ferritin; Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Mannheim, Germany]. Other hematological parameters were determined by using automated analyzer by Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kobe; Masaaki Oka, Kakogawa, Japan. All parameters improved significantly in women of both treatment groups. Hb% [p<0.05], RBC count [p<0.01] and Reticulocyte count [p<0.05] were significantly increased in weekly group when compared with daily group. Serum ferritin increases non-significantly in daily group when compared with weekly group [p>0.05]. It was concluded that weekly supplementation of iron is equally effective in controlling IDA, when compared with daily iron supplement. A non-significant greater increase in SFC in daily group might support iron overload theory