The link between vitamin A dietary status and anaemia in pregnancy: A comparative cross-sectional study

Jeremy Rafael Tandaju, Saptawati Bardosono, Metta Dewi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Anaemia in pregnancy occurs mainly in the second and third trimesters. It is becoming more common among Indonesians and is associated with complications. Vitamin A assists in iron and cell metabolism but is unpopular during pregnancy. To assess the relationship between dietary status of vitamin A and anaemia in women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: A pilot comparative cross-sectional study of 22 women with anaemia and 22 women without anaemia was conducted between August to October of 2018. Vitamin A dietary status was measured using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire with a cut-off of 850 mcg/day deemed adequate. Anaemia status was assessed using a haematology analyser with a cut-off of 10.5 g/dL and values below the cut-off were considered anaemic. RESULTS: The difference in mean age between the anaemia and non-anaemia groups was not statistically significant. However, there was a clinical disparity in incidence of anaemia according to gestational age, with 55.2% at term gestational age and 40.0% at preterm gestational age. It was found that 38.6% of the initial subjects were anaemic and 81.8% did not have sufficient daily vitamin A. Despite its role in cell metabolism; there was no link between vitamin A dietary status and anaemia status. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin A alone was unsuccessful in preventing anaemia in the third trimester. It is suggested, however, that it could be beneficial when combined with iron, folic acid and cobalamin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S123-S128
JournalJPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Volume71 2)
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2021

Keywords

  • Anaemia, Vitamin A, Retinoid, Third trimester, Pregnancy.

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