A team effort between Australian and Chinese scientists could save the lives of many Chinese babies.
The team from the Xi'an Jiaotong University, The George Institute for International Health and Sydney University's School of Public Health, have been involved in a new study in China which has revealed the significant impact of iron supplements during pregnancy on preventing deaths in infants under four weeks of age.
The study was conducted over a four year period in two poor rural counties in northwest China, and set out to assess the impact of taking iron/folic acid and multiple micronutrient supplements containing 15 minerals and vitamins during pregnancy, compared with folic acid alone.
Lead investigator Professor Hong Yan from Xi'an Jiaotong University College of Medicine says the research demonstrates that nutrient supplements for pregnant women in developing countries need to have an adequate amount of iron to prevent premature births and reduce infant mortality.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) have proposed the use of multiple micronutrient supplements during pregnancy, but this study found that although multiple micronutrients did improve birth weight more than iron folic acid, this greater increase in birth weight did not translate into reductions in infant deaths in the first month following birth.
Associate Professor Michael Dibley, from the School of Public Health and George Institute for International Health at Sydney University says after comparing the results with other studies in Indonesia, India, the United States, and Bangladesh, it appeared the reduction in neonatal mortality was related to the increased duration of pregnancy from the iron in the supplements.