Journal
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Volume 198, Issue 2, Pages 163-166Publisher
UNIV CHICAGO PRESS
DOI: 10.1086/589512
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Funding
- FIC NIH HHS [TW05509] Funding Source: Medline
- NIAID NIH HHS [R01 AI52059] Funding Source: Medline
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Iron plus folate supplementation increases mortality and morbidity among children in areas of malaria endemicity in Africa, but the effects of supplementation on pregnant women in malaria-endemic areas remain unclear. In northeastern Tanzania, where malaria and iron deficiency are common, we found that placental malaria was less prevalent (8.5% vs. 47.3% of women; P<. 0001) and less severe ( median parasite density, 4.2% vs. 6.3% of placental red blood cells; P = .04) among women with iron deficiency than among women with sufficient iron stores, especially during the first pregnancy. Multivariate analysis revealed that iron deficiency ( P<. 0001) and multigravidity (P = .002) significantly decreased the risk of placental malaria. Interventional trials of iron and folate supplementation during pregnancy in malaria-endemic regions in Africa are urgently needed to ascertain the benefits and risks of this intervention.
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