Primal Health Databank: Study

Entry No:0657
Title:Effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on the intelligence quotient and behavior of children at 4 y of age: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial
Author(s):Zhou SJ, Gibson RA, Crowther CA, Baghurst P, Makrides M
Reference:Am J Clin Nutr. 2006 May;83(5):1112-7
Place of Study:Australia
Abstract: Pregnant women (n = 430) were randomly allocated to receive iron (20 mg/d) or placebo from 20 wk gestation until delivery, and the women and their children were followed up over the long term (4 y). Seventy percent of these families participated in the follow-up. The proportion of women with iron deficiency anemia at the end of pregnancy was 1% (2 of 146) in the iron group and 11% (15 of 141) in the placebo group. The mean IQ was not significantly different (P = 0.980) between the children of the iron-supplemented mothers (109 +/- 11; n = 153) and the children of the mothers in the placebo group (109 +/- 11; n = 149). However, the percentage of children with an abnormal behavior score was higher in the iron group (24 of 151, or 16%) than in the placebo group (12 of 149, or 8%); the relative risk was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.03, 3.80; P = 0.037). There was no significant difference in the health of the mothers between groups, as assessed by the SF-36 Health Survey.
Keyword(s):Intellectual quotient, IQ, iron
Discussion:No discussion mentioned for this entry
See Also:No related entries mentioned for this entry

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