Table 2. Maternal characteristics at baseline by intervention group1.
| Variable | MM | IFA | FA |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 508) | (n = 518) | (n = 555) | |
| Age at randomization, y | 26.20 ± 4.70 | 26.02 ± 4.20 | 25.76 ± 4.24 |
| Age at first marriage, y | 21.74 ± 3.27 | 21.83 ± 3.30 | 21.85 ± 3.30 |
| Ethnic minority, % | 52.66 | 48.64 | 47.20 |
| Education Level, % | |||
| Primary school | 10.63 | 12.98 | 13.56 |
| Secondary school | 26.97 | 25.58 | 23.69 |
| High school | 53.35 | 53.68 | 55.70 |
| College or higher | 9.06 | 7.75 | 7.05 |
| Work as farmers, % | 81.50 | 78.68 | 77.76 |
| Having at least one child, % | 79.92 | 81.59 | 78.48 |
| Anthropometric measurements | |||
| Height, cm | 152.8 ± 5.00 | 152.6 ± 5.05 | 152.9 ± 5.20 |
| Weight, kg | 46.17 ± 5.73 | 45.46 ± 5.18 | 45.82 ± 5.44 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 19.77 ± 2.06 | 19.52 ± 1.91 | 19.60 ± 2.10 |
| BMI<18.5, % | 29.22 | 30.74 | 31.88 |
| Macronutrient intake/day | |||
| Total energy, kcal | 2241 ± 786 | 2245 ± 751 | 2202 ± 716 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 362.54 ± 107.85 | 359.38 ± 113.11 | 357.75 ± 110.14 |
| Fat (g) | 50.30 ± 31.43 | 51.67 ± 25.89 | 49.13 ± 25.76 |
| Protein (g) | 84.44 ± 36.19 | 85.39 ± 33.81 | 82.03 ± 31.41 |
| Micronutrient intake/ day | |||
| Iron, mg | 17.36 ± 8.26 | 17.74 ± 7.64 | 17.26 ± 8.13 |
| Zinc, mg | 10.61 ± 3.62 | 10.62 ± 3.44 | 10.40 ± 3.58 |
| Vitamin C, mg | 236 ± 164 | 246 ± 145 | 250 ± 201 |
| Folate, mg | 343 ± 211 | 356 ± 192 | 349 ± 196 |
| Vitamin B12, μg | 2.15 ±2.33 | 2.01 ± 1.78 | 1.97 ± 1.85 |
| Vitamin A, μg | 925.59 ± 730.47 | 955.27 ± 647.19 | 968.57 ± 813.34 |
| % < EAR [39] | |||
| Iron, % | 25.79 | 23.17 | 24.68 |
| Zinc, % | 14.96 | 16.41 | 16.76 |
| Vitamin C, % | 5.12 | 3.67 | 6.31 |
| Folate, % | 55.51 | 50.97 | 51.17 |
| Vitamin B12, % | 62.40 | 62.93 | 64.32 |
| Vitamin A, % | 29.33 | 26.64 | 24.32 |
| Hematological indicators | |||
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 12.91 ± 1.38 | 12.91 ± 1.38 | 13.04 ± 1.26 |
| Anemia, % | 21.43 | 20.00 | 17.18 |
| Plasma TFR, mg/L | 4.90 ± 1.82 | 4.74 ± 1.48 | 4.67 ± 1.56 |
| Plasma TFR >8.3, % | 3.97 | 3.12 | 1.81 |
| Plasma Ferritin2, μg/L | 66.31 (61.92, 71.01) | 64.07 (60.09, 68.32) | 66.89 (61.98, 70.04) |
| Low iron store (ferritin <30 μg/L), % | 13.41 | 14.04 | 11.21 |
| Iron deficiency (ferritin <12 μg/L), % | 3.55 | 2.92 | 2.71 |
| Iron deficiency anemia, % | 1.59 | 1.95 | 1.08 |
| Plasma RBP, μmol/L | 1.61 ± 0.42 | 1.62 ± 0.44 | 1.62 ± 0.40 |
| Acute inflammation (CRP >5 mg/L), % | 3.16 | 2.53 | 2.89 |
| Chronic inflammation (AGP >1 g/L), % | 4.93 | 5.65 | 4.16 |
1 Sample of women with venous blood samples at the 1st prenatal visit. Values are mean ± SD or percentages. No significant differences among all baseline variables using ANOVA test for comparison of means and goodness of fit test for comparison of proportions, P >0.05.
2 Geometric mean (95% Confidence Interval)
AGP- alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein, BMI- Body Mass Index, CRP- C-reactive Protein, EAR: Estimated Adequate Requirement for US (no Vietnamese specific cut points for EAR), FA- Folic Acid, Hb- Hemoglobin, IFA- Iron and Folic Acid, MM- Multiple Micronutrient, RBP- Retinol Binding Protein, TFR- Transferrin Receptor.