Iron supplements in pregnant women with normal iron status: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the benefits and harms of daily oral iron supplementation in non-anemic, iron-replete pregnant women.
Results Summary
Daily iron supplementation probably reduces the risk of maternal iron deficiency anemia at term and low birthweight, based on data from 8 RCTs involving 2822 women. No observational studies met the inclusion criteria.
Population
Non-anemic, iron-replete pregnant women
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
daily oral iron supplementation | decrease | iron deficiency anemia at term | iron replete non-anemic pregnant women | risk ratio [RR]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-0.70 | probably reduces | #1 |
daily iron supplementation | decrease | low birthweight | iron replete non-anemic pregnant women | - | probably reduces the risk of | #2 |
INTRODUCTION: Effects of daily iron supplementation in iron replete pregnancy are unclear. This systematic review aimed to assess benefits and harms of oral iron supplements in pregnant women without anemia and iron deficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We predefined and registered a protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42020186210) and performed the review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. We searched for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing daily oral iron supplementation with no iron supplements in non-anemic iron replete pregnant women. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE (by PubMed), EMBASE (by OVID), Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to September 2022 without language restrictions. Two authors independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB2). One author read full-texts, assessed certainty of evidence by GRADE and conducted meta-analyses using a random-effects model. Primary outcomes included iron deficiency anemia, iron deficiency, hemoglobin >130 g/L, elevated iron status, small for gestational age newborns, low birthweight newborns, preterm birth, and congenital anomalies. RESULTS: Eight RCTs (2822 women) but no observational studies were eligible for inclusion. Daily oral iron supplementation in pregnancy probably reduces iron deficiency anemia at term (risk ratio [RR]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.38-0.70; 4 RCTs, 1670 women; I CONCLUSIONS: Daily iron supplementation in iron replete non-anemic pregnant women probably reduces the risk of maternal iron deficiency anemia at term and low birthweight.