Abstract
The effect of daily oral supplementation with 195,260 and 390 mg elemental iron was tested using pregnant women on prenatal consultation at three health centers in Metro Manila. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron and transferrin saturation were used as the hematologic parameters. The supplementation was supervised in all groups except one. The unsupervised group apparently followed the instruction given as shown by their comparable response. Supplementation for four weeks was too short to produce any substantial change in hemoglobin level. The very high dose of 390 mg iron gave a high incidence of side-effects and did not result in better response than lower doses. The simultaneous administration of 5 mg folic acid at the 260 mg iron level did not increase hemoglobin levels higher than the iron supplementation alone. Continuation of iron supplementation for a total period of 12 weeks resulted in a higher rise in hemoglobin level but responses to 195 and 260 mg iron gave levels that were not statistically different.
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