Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-25-2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The objective is to study the trajectories of hematologic and biochemical markers in moderately anemic pregnant women receiving oral iron supplementation throughout pregnancy. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted from August 2021 to September 2023 involving 315 pregnant women from rural areas of Belgaum, Karnataka, India, with hemoglobin levels between 7.0 and 9.9 g/dL and serum ferritin < 30 ng/mL and/or TSAT < 20%. Participants received iron-folic acid supplementation (IFAS) as per Anaemia Mukt Bharat guidelines. Blood samples were collected to measure various hematologic and iron markers and compared across each visits. Results: We report a complete adherence rate of 95.3% for iron and 97.8% for folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy and also observed significant improvements in hemoglobin (9.36 (8.55, 9.74) to 12.03 (11.49, 12.72)) g/dL, hematocrit (29.93 ± 2.87 to 33.71 ± 3.69) %, MCV (72.16 ± 7.90 to 83.47 ± 7.65) fL, MCH (22.44 ± 3.01 to 26.77 ± 3.08) pg levels from the early second to the early third trimester of pregnancy with significant difference (< 0.001). Increased erythropoiesis was reported by a higher reticulocyte hemoglobin (23.30 ± 3.03 to 27.84 ± 3.83) pg and immature reticulocyte fractions (6.90 (4.30, 9.50) to 7.30 (4.3, 11.0)) %. Initially, iron, ferritin and TSAT levels increased but later stabilized or slightly declined towards the end of pregnancy. Conclusions: Daily IFAS in moderately anemic pregnant women improved the trajectory of iron parameters, with peak gains in early third trimester. High adherence via counselling supports targeted monitoring and trimester-specific strategies to reduce maternal anemia and may improve outcomes.
Recommended Citation
Akshaykirthan, J. P.; Somannavar, Manjunath S.; Yogeshkumar, S.; Deepthy, M. S.; Charantimath, Umesh; Patil, Amaresh; Bellad, Mrutyunjaya B.; Derman, Richard; and Goudar, Shivaprasad S., "Trajectory of Iron and Red Cell Parameters in Moderately Anemic Iron-Deficient Pregnant Women Receiving Daily Iron-Folic Acid Supplementation: A Prospective Cohort Study" (2025). Global Health Articles. Article 40.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/gha/40
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Language
English
Included in
Circulatory and Respiratory Physiology Commons, Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Commons, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Commons, Reproductive and Urinary Physiology Commons, Therapeutics Commons, Women's Health Commons
Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in Journal of Clinical Medicine, Volume 14, Issue 19, 2025, Article number 6787.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196787. Copyright © 2025 by the authors.