World Journal of Medical Sciences 8 (3): 177-185, 2013 ISSN 1817-3055 © IDOSI Publications, 2013 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjms.2013.8.3.1115 Corresponding Author: Sitti Patimah, Komp. Pondok Asri I Blok B 6 No 3 Sudiang 90242, Makassar, South-Sulawesi, Indonesia. Tel: +62-812 428 4820, E-mail: imhasudirman@gmail.com. 177 The Influence of Multiple Micronutrient Supplementations on Hemoglobin and Serum Ferritin Levels of Pregnant Women Sitti Patimah, Suryani As’ad, Kamaruzaman Jusoff, 1 2 3 Veni Hadju, Abdul Razak Thaha and Burhanuddin Bahar 4 4 4 Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Muslim Indonesia (Campus II), 1 Jl. Urip Sumoharjo Km 5. Makassar 90232 South Sulawesi, Indonesia Nutrition Department, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, 2 Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km 10, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia Department of Forest Production, Faculty of Forestry, 3 Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, 4 Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km 10, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia Abstract: Maternal anemia remains a public health problem in Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of multiple micronutrient and iron folic acid supplementation on hemoglobin and ferritin serum levels of pregnant women who suffer from anemia. The study was a randomized controlled trial conducted in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi Indonesia from June to December 2012. The subjects were 70 pregnant women with anemia were randomly allocated into two equal groups. The first group (n=35) received a multiple micronutrient supplement daily, second group (n=35) received a iron folic acid tablet daily, respectively for 12 consecutive weeks. Hemoglobin and ferritin serum were measured before and after the supplementation. Independent T and Paired T tests were used as appropriated. Mean hemoglobin levels increased significantly after the supplementation of multiple micronutrient (0.92±1.18 g/dl; p=0.000) whereas iron folic acid supplement did not increase significantly (0.39±1.17 g/dl; p=0.099), ferritin serum levels of the two groups were not significantly decreased after supplementation multiple micronutrient (8.18±29.77ng/ml; p=0.130) and iron folic acid (10.52±26.48 ng/ml; p=0.058). It can be concluded that multiple micronutrient is better than iron folic acid supplement to improved hemoglobin levels, but it has not been able to improve maternal iron stores. Thus, pregnant women who use iron folic acid supplements could not affectively overcome the anemia problems. Further research is needed to increase the duration of the intervention multiple micronutrient supplements, including multiple micronutrient supplementation from pre-conception through pregnancy, with a larger number of sample. Key words: Multiple Micronutrient %Hemoglobin %Serum Ferritin %Pregnant Women INTRODUCTION 2001.Several studies have confirmed the result of iron In Indonesia, the nutritional status of pregnant growth disorder [3], the risk of preterm birth and low women is still considered a public health problem. Data birth weight (LBW) by 2-3 times [4, 5]. Children born LBW of basic health research showed that the prevalence of will lead children to become short in childhood and maternal anemia of 24.5% [1], is a public health problem adulthood, as well as the risk for the chronical disease [6] was categorized according to WHO criteria (20-39.9%) [2]. and a significant decrease in the ponderal index [7]. This figure has decreased compared to the previous Incidence of LBW was associated with the incidence anemic data at 40.1% based on Household Health Survey, of some diseases in adulthood, such as hypertension, deficiency anemia in pregnant women include fetus