Relative bioavailability of iron and folic acid from a new powdered supplement compared to a traditional tablet in pregnant women

Table 2 Baseline measures of iron and folate status under fasting conditions

	Mean ± SD N = 18	Range	% outside normal range	Direction
Hemoglobin g/dL	12.6 ± 0.8	10.6–13.7	0*
Serum Ferritin μg/L	14.1 ± 8.3	4.5–31.4	50**	below
sTfR mg/L	3.2 ± 0.9	1.9–5.5	5.5***	above
Serum Iron μmol/L	14.0 ± 5.7	6.7–25.5	0****
Plasma folate nmol/L	57.2 ± 19.2	17.6–102.2	72*****	above

n = 18. sTfR, serum transferrin receptor. *Hb cutoff during 2^nd trimester is defined as 105 g/L and 110 g/L during third trimester[44] **Low ferritin values defined as <12 μg/L [43]. ***High sTfR values defined as 4.9 mg/L as per kit [21]. Serum iron for non-pregnant women is defined as 6.7–30.4 μmol/L[23] **** High serum folate values defined as >45.3 nmol/L [41].

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