RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Routine iron supplements in pregnancy are unnecessary
JF Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin
JO Drug Ther Bull
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 30
OP 31
DO 10.1136/dtb.1994.32430
VO 32
IS 4
YR 1994
UL http://dtb.bmj.com/content/32/4/30.abstract
AB Relevant BNF section: 9.1.1.1Women commonly take iron supplements during pregnancy. Many feel tired when pregnant, commonly their haemoglobin concentrations fall and it is known that iron is taken up preferentially by the developing fetus. In such circumstances additional iron appears justified. However, scientific support for this approach is weak. In this article we ask whether the routine use of iron supplements alters the outcome for mother or child.