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Healthy women should not take iron supplements in pregnancy

8 June 2007

Key facts

Anaemia is a condition in which the blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen, either because there is a low number of red blood cells or because each red blood cell is able to carry less oxygen than normal.
You should be able to get all the iron you need from your daily diet. For men the recommended amount is 8.7mg a day and for women, it's 14.8mg a day.
Pregnancy can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia, because the growing baby needs iron and takes its supply from the mother. Iron deficiency is more likely to develop during pregnancy in women whose diet does not contain plenty of iron.

Healthy women who take iron supplements in pregnancy are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure and have smaller babies, according to a study published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).

Women often take extra iron to help beat anaemia during pregnancy because it's thought to help the growth of the placenta and baby.

Researchers, from Tarbiat Modarres University in Tehran, followed 727 pregnant women who didn't have anaemia to find out the effects of iron supplements.

They gave 370 women a 150mg ferrous sulphate tablet (equivalent to 50mg of iron) every day throughout pregnancy, while 357 were given a dummy pill.

The women were examined during pregnancy and for six weeks after delivery.

The researchers found that women taking the tablets were more likely to develop high blood pressure and more likely to have a smaller baby. Their findings showed that iron supplements also increase the risk of copper and zinc deficiency in women.

Doctors in the UK do not routinely prescribe iron supplements to pregnant women. However, many pregnant women take daily multivitamin pills that contain iron. The iron dose in multivitamins is usually 17mg and far less than that used in this study.

Professor Philip Steer, editor of BJOG, said: "Anaemia in women is often associated with low birth weight and pre-term births but that does not mean that women should be popping iron pills, or any vitamin pills indiscriminately, to prevent poor pregnancy outcomes. Women who are not suffering from anaemia should ensure they receive proper advice on diet and nutrition from their doctors and midwives.

"This study shows that iron supplements may have a harmful effect on women who do not need them in the first place."

The Foods Standards Agency (FSA) advises that pregnant women should aim to get iron from their diet rather than supplements. The agency also recommends that pregnant women eat foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as fruit or vegetables, along with foods that contain iron, as it helps the body absorb the iron. However, a doctor or midwife may prescribe supplements for pregnant women with an iron deficiency.

Good sources of iron include: