Table 1 Subject characteristics at time of enrolment
From: Effect of iron content on the tolerability of prenatal multivitamins in pregnancy
Prenatal multivitamin groups, differing in iron content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
60 mg iron group n = 75 | 35 mg iron group n = 92 | Total N = 167 | |
Study inclusion: | |||
a) Had not started multivitamin in current pregnancy | 27 (36%) | 28 (30%) | 55 (33%) |
b) Had discontinued multivitamin in current pregnancy | 48 (64%) | 64 (70%) | 112 (67%) |
Reasons for (a) or (b): | |||
Nausea and/or vomiting (NVP) | 62 (83%) | 68 (74%) | 130 (78%) |
Tablet sizeψ, swallowing difficulties, other tablet properties (i.e. taste, smell) | 33 (44%) | 20 (22%) | 53 (32%) |
Constipationβ | 4 (5%) | 14 (15%) | 18 (11%) |
Abdominal pain, GI irritability, diarrhea, heartburn, reflux | 10 (13%) | 13 (14%) | 23 (14%) |
GI medical condition (i.e. IBS, Crohn's disease) | 2 (3%) | 2 (2%) | 4 (2%) |
Doctor's advice, not supplement taker, or lacked information | 5 (7%) | 6 (7%) | 11 (7%) |
Maternal age (years) Mean ± standard deviation | 30 ± 5 | 31 ± 5 | 31 ± 5 |
Gravidity: | |||
First pregnancy | 23 (31%) | 20 (22%) | 43 (26%) |
Second or higher pregnancy | 52 (69%) | 72 (78%) | 124 (74%) |
Multivitamin intake in a previous pregnancy* | 45/52 (87%) | 59/72 (82%) | 104/124 (84%) |
Discontinued multivitamin in a previous pregnancy* | 26/45 (58%) | 28/59 (47%) | 54/104 (52%) |