Study on the Influence of Iron Supplementation on Neonatal Birth Weight: A Population-Based Survey in Northwestern China

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To explore the effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on neonatal birth weight in childbearing aged women in Shaanxi province. Methods A sample of 24,952 women of childbearing age (18 ∼ 49) living in Shaanxi province of China who gave birth in 2010–2013 were surveyed using a stratified, multistage and random sampling method. The information about their characteristics were recorded by a structured questionnaire. Multiple linear regression model and quantile regression model were employed with the birth weight of newborns and gestational iron supplementation as dependent variables and independent variables respectively, and controlling confounding factors. Results Among the 24,952 women of childbearing age surveyed, multiple linear regression and quantile regression analysis showed that the birth weight of newborns whose mothers had iron supplementation during pregnancy were significantly higher than those whose mothers had no iron supplement during pregnancy from very low to higher percentiles (q = 0–0.35, q = 0.80), an average increase of 38.31 g (β = 38.31, t = 2.99 and P < 0.01). With the increase of the percentiles of birth weight, the birth weight of newborns increase declined gradually in those whose mothers had iron supplementation compared with those whose mothers had no iron supplementation. Conclusions Supplementation of iron during pregnancy can increase the neonatal birth weight, which has a greater effect in newborns with lower body weight than in newborns with higher body Weight. Funding Sources This study was founded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81,230,016) and the Project of birth defect control and prevention in Shaanxi (Sxwsjswzfcght2016–013). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.