Evaluation of a gastric delivery system for iron supplementation in pregnancy

The present investigation was undertaken to assess the efficacy of oral iron supplementation during pregnancy by using a gastric delivery system (GDS). Three hundred seventy-six pregnant women between 16 and 35 years of age and 14 and 22 weeks gestation were selected if mild anemia was present (hemoglobin concentration 80-110 g/l). The participants were randomly assigned to one of three study groups given no iron, two FeSO4 tablets (100 mg FE) daily, or one GDS capsule (50 mg Fe) daily. Blood was obtained initially and after 6 and 12 weeks for measurement of red blood cell and iron indexes, including serum transferrin receptor. There was a significant and comparable improvement in hematologic and iron-status measurements in the two group of women given iron whereas iron deficiency evolved in women given no iron supplement. We conclude that by elimating gastrointestinal side effects and reducing the administration frequency of an iron supplement to once daily, a GDS offers significant advantages for iron supplementation of pregnant women. (AU)

An evaluation of the HemoCue for measuring haemoglobin in field studies in Jamaica

The HemoCue system utilizes the principle of oxidation of haemoglobin to hemiglobin by sodium nitrite and the subsequent conversion of hemiglobin to hemiglobinazide by sodium azide. The reagents for these reactions are contained within a small disposable microcuvette of approximately 10 æ\ in volumne. A venous or capillary sample is introduced into the microcuvette by capillary action and, after reaction with the reagents, the absorbance is read in the HemoCue photometer at 565 and 880nm. The haemoglobin concentration is then displayed as a digital reading, in either g/dl or mmol/l in 15-45 seconds. We compared haemolgobin values obtained by the HemoCue system with those from the Coulter Counter S-Plus IV in 366 pregnant women in urban Jamaica, and found a highly significant correlation (r = 0.78, P < 0.01). However, because of the convenience and erase of use of this instrument and considering the relatively high cost, we recommend it for use only as a research tool in field studies where accurate and rapid haemoglobin dterminationas are required (AU)