The Association between Malaria and Iron Status or Supplementation in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Sangaré, Laura, van Eijk, Anna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1635-1289, terKuile, Feiko ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3663-5617, Walson, Judd and Stergachis, Andy (2014) 'The Association between Malaria and Iron Status or Supplementation in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis'. PLoS ONE, Vol 9, Issue 2, e87743.

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Abstract

Introduction
Malaria prevention and iron supplementation are associated with improved maternal and infant outcomes. However, evidence from studies in children suggests iron may adversely modify the risk of malaria. We reviewed the evidence in pregnancy of the association between malaria and markers of iron status, iron supplementation or parenteral treatment.

Methods and Findings
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Global Health Library, and the Malaria in Pregnancy library to identify studies that investigated the association between iron status, iron treatment or supplementation during pregnancy and malaria. Thirty one studies contributed to the analysis; 3 experimental and 28 observational studies. Iron supplementation was not associated with an increased risk of P. falciparum malaria during pregnancy or delivery in Africa (summary Relative Risk = 0.89, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.66–1.20, I2 = 78.8%, 5 studies). One study in Asia reported an increased risk of P. vivax within 30 days of iron supplementation (e.g. adjusted Hazard Ratio = 1.75, 95% CI 1.14–2.70 for 1–15 days), but not after 60 days. Iron deficiency (based on ferritin and C-reactive protein) was associated with lower odds for malaria infection (summary Odds Ratio = 0.35, 0.24–0.51, I2 = 59.2%, 5 studies). With the exception of the acute phase protein ferritin, biomarkers of iron deficiency were generally not associated with malaria infection.

Conclusions
Iron supplementation was associated with a temporal increase in P vivax, but not with an increased risk of P. falciparum; however, data are insufficient to rule out the potential for an increased risk of P. falciparum. Iron deficiency was associated with a decreased malaria risk in pregnancy only when measured with ferritin. Until there is more evidence, it is prudent to provide iron in combination with malaria prevention during pregnancy.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QU Biochemistry > Biochemistry of the Human Body > QU 130.5 Trace elements QV Pharmacology > Hematologic Agents > QV 183 Iron. Iron compounds W General Medicine. Health Professions > W 20.5 Biomedical research WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 750 Malaria WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 155 Anemia WQ Obstetrics > Pregnancy Complications > WQ 256 Infectious diseases
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0087743
Depositing User:	Martin Chapman
Date Deposited:	24 Mar 2014 11:31
Last Modified:	16 Aug 2019 13:40
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/3624

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