American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 26, 591-594, Copyright © 1973 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc.

Etiopathogenesis of nutritional anemia in pregnancy: a therapeutic approach

¹ From the Departments of Pathology and Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

One hundred twelve pregnant women at 26 ± 2 weeks of gestation and with hemoglobin levels of less than 11 g/100 ml were investigated for level of hematocrit, serum iron, iron-binding capacity, serum vitamin B₁₂, and serum folates. They were randomly divided into eight groups receiving as follows: I, placebo; II, iron; III, vitamin B₁₂; IV, folic acid; V, iron + vitamin B₁₂; VI, iron + folic acid; VII, vitamin B₁₂ + folic acid; and VIII, iron, vitamin B₁₂, and folic acid. The treatment was given for a period of 4 weeks. The women receiving iron singly or in combination showed a significant rise in hemoglobin. Vitamin B₁₂ and/or folic acid did not enhance the effect of iron supplementation. The response to therapy was not related to initial level of serum iron, vitamin B₁₂, or folic acid. The study clearly demonstrates that iron deficiency is the most important factor in causation of anemia in these women.