Impact of vitamin A supplementation in anaemia during pregnancy: a randomized double blind controlled clinical trial

Background: To study the impact of Vitamin A supplementation in anaemia during Pregnancy and thus improving maternal and fetal outcome a Randomized double blind controlled clinical trial was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, L.L.R.M. Medical college Meerut involving 250 pregnant women in late pregnancy 18-28 weeks with haemoglobin levels <11 g% (7-11 g%)..Methods: The study subjects were divided into two groups: Group A (n=125): Received daily supplement containing Iron (60 mg elemental iron) + Folate (500 mcg) + Vitamin A 20,000 IU weekly for a minimum of 12 weeks. Group B (n=125): Received daily supplement containing iron (60 mg elemental iron) + Folate (500 mcg) for a minimum of 12 weeks.Results: Maximum patients were uneducated belonging to low socioeconomic status. The mean haemoglobin values in Group A and Group B increased from 9.674±1.05 and 9.53±1.04 to 12.2±0.89 and 10.82±1.06 respectively after supplementation. Similarily Serum Ferritin levels increased from 15.96±2.94 and 15.70±2.83 to 78.40±17.82 and 58.64±11.93. Mean corpuscular volume, packed cell volume and red blood cell counts also increased significantly. Maximum haemoglobin levels were achieved with both vitamin A and iron supplementation. The proportion of women who became non anaemic was 97.17% in Group A vs 68.69% in Group B.Conclusions: Vitamin A supplementation improves anaemia and also dramatically improves iron stores in anaemic pregnant women