Oral Iron Supplementation in Pregnancy: Current Recommendations and Evidence-Based Medicine Suplementação oral de ferro na gravidez: recomendações atuais e medicina baseada na evidência - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia

Abstract

Objective

To review the evidence about universal iron supplementation in pregnancy to prevent maternal anemia.

Methods

Bibliographic research of randomized and controlled clinical trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines, published between August 2009 and August 2019, using the MeSH terms: iron; therapeutic use; pregnancy; anemia, prevention and control.

Results

We included six clinical guidelines, three meta-analyses and one randomized controlled clinical trial.

Discussion

Most articles point to the improvement of hematological parameters and reduction of maternal anemia risk, with supplementary iron. However, they do not correlate this improvement in pregnant women without previous anemia with the eventual improvement of clinical parameters.

Conclusion

Universal iron supplementation in pregnancy is controversial, so we attribute a SORT C recommendation strength.