Iron and folate status of Algerian pregnant women

An assessment of iron and folacin status was performed on 222 pregnant women presenting for delivery at the maternity wards of Biskra (eastern Algeria). Anaemia (according to the WHO references) was observed in 41.9% of pregnant women. Iron depletion defined only by a low serum ferritin concentration (12 μg/1 or less) was observed in 9.5% of women. Iron deficiency was defined by the presence of abnormalities of 2 or more independent indicators of iron status (transferrin saturation less than 16%, mean corpuscular volume less than 80 fl, serum ferritin of 12 μg/1 or less). According to this definition, 75 (33.8%) women were iron deficient, while 50 were anaemic. The frequency of folate deficiency (defined by red cell concentration below 100 μg/1) was 51.9%. Biological evidence of folate deficiency was associated with anaemia in 18.2% of women. Iron and folate deficiencies may be explained by poor iron and folate intakes and particularly by the low bioavailability of dietary iron. If these data are confirmed, it will be necessary to develop strategies for combating iron and folacin deficiency in pregnant women using supplementation, fortification of foods and nutritional education.