Iron, folate, and vitamin B 12 nutrition in pregnancy: a study of 1000 women from southern India.

As part of a WHO collaborative programme the prevalence of anaemia was studied and the serum concentrations of iron, folate, and vitamin B(12) were measured in 1 000 pregnant women from southern India. The results of the study show a high prevalence of anaemia, resulting from iron and folate deficiency with iron deficiency predominating. Interrelationships between these nutrients and their effect on pregnancy and the fetus were investigated. The results indicate that, in comparison with populations in developed countries, there was a high prevalence of iron and vitamin B(12) deficiency in the community, but the state of folate nutrition was similar to that found elsewhere.