TABLE 3.
SF, sTfR, BI, and hemoglobin at baseline (4–19 wk of gestation) and follow-up (28–32 wk of gestation) by study group1
| Group | n | Baseline | Follow-up | P 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF, μg/L | ||||
| Folic acid | 282 | 51.4 (46.6, 56.8) | 11.3 (10.4, 12.1)b | <0.001 |
| Iron–folic acid | 278 | 54.8 (49.8, 60.4) | 16.7 (15.3, 18.1)a | <0.001 |
| Multiple micronutrient | 274 | 55.6 (50.7, 61.0) | 15.0 (13.7, 16.5)a | <0.001 |
| STfR, μg/L | ||||
| Folic acid | 282 | 4.07 (3.88, 4.27) | 4.79 (4.29, 5.34)a | 0.006 |
| Iron–folic acid | 278 | 4.16 (3.97, 4.35) | 3.99 (3.52, 4.53)b | 0.547 |
| Multiple micronutrient | 274 | 4.06 (3.86, 4.27) | 4.34 (3.84, 4.89)a,b | 0.309 |
| BI, mg/kg | ||||
| Folic acid | 282 | 5.98 (5.55, 6.42) | −0.22 (−0.62, 0.17)b | <0.001 |
| Iron–folic acid | 278 | 6.15 (5.75, 6.54) | 1.72 (1.29, 2.15)a | <0.001 |
| Multiple micronutrient | 274 | 6.28 (5.88, 6.67) | 1.10 (0.65, 1.55)a | <0.001 |
| Hemoglobin, g/L | ||||
| Folic acid | 282 | 121.5 (120.5, 122.5) | 124.5 (123.2, 125.7)a | <0.001 |
| Iron–folic acid | 278 | 121.5 (120.6, 122.5) | 124.4 (123.2, 125.6)a | <0.001 |
| Multiple micronutrient | 274 | 122.4 (121.4, 123.4) | 126.0 (124.8, 127.2)a | <0.001 |
Data are geometric means (95% CIs) for SF and sTfR and arithmetic means (95% CIs) for BI and hemoglobin. Within each indicator at baseline, means across groups are not significantly different (P > 0.05, 2-tailed t test). Within each indicator at follow-up, means across groups with different superscript letters were significantly different (a > b, P < 0.05) after adjustment by group baseline amount of each indicator and gestational age and interaction term (generalized linear model). BI, body iron; SF, serum ferritin; sTfR, serum soluble transferrin receptor.
Within each row, means between baseline and follow-up were tested by 2-tailed paired t test.