Question

Assertion (A): Ferrous sulphate should not be given to pregnant women who are at high risk of PIH.

Reason (R): Ferrous sulphate increases free radicals which induce serum lipid peroxide formation.

• A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true but R is false.
• D. A is false but R is true.

Hint:

Think about how oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation connect iron supplements to pre-eclampsia.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the assertion.
Pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), including pre-eclampsia, is linked to damage to the lining of blood vessels (endothelial dysfunction), which is partly driven by oxidative stress in the body. In women who are already at high risk of PIH, giving routine iron supplements like ferrous sulphate has been flagged as a concern in this group, since it may add to that oxidative burden rather than help. So the advice to avoid or use it cautiously in this specific high-risk group is a true, recognized point.

Step 2: Understand the reason.
Iron is chemically reactive and, through reactions such as the Fenton reaction, free (unbound) iron generates reactive oxygen species, commonly called free radicals. These free radicals attack fats in cell membranes, producing lipid peroxides, a marker of oxidative stress. This is an established biochemical fact, so the reason is true.

Step 3: Check if the reason explains the assertion.
Since pre-eclampsia and PIH are worsened by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, and ferrous sulphate itself promotes free radical formation and lipid peroxidation, giving iron to a woman already at high risk of PIH can add fuel to a process that is already part of the disease. This directly explains why caution is advised with ferrous sulphate in this specific group.

Step 4: Rule out the other options.
Option (b) does not fit, since the reason is not just a coincidental true fact, it is the actual mechanism behind the caution. Option (c) fails because R is true. Option (d) fails because A is also true.

Final Answer:
Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.