The Benefits and Risks of Iron Supplementation in Pregnancy and Childhood
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Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes
Published on: May 10, 2022
Michael K Georgieff1, Nancy F Krebs2, Sarah E Cusick1
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55454, USA; email: georg001@umn.edu, scusick@umn.edu.
Abstract:
Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world and disproportionately affects pregnant women and young children. Iron deficiency has negative effects on pregnancy outcomes in women and on immune function and neurodevelopment in children. Iron supplementation programs have been successful in reducing this health burden. However, iron supplementation of iron-sufficient individuals is likely not necessary and may carry health risks for iron-sufficient and potentially some iron-deficient populations. This review considers the physiology of iron as a nutrient and how this physiology informs decision-making about weighing the benefits and risks of iron supplementation in iron-deficient, iron-sufficient, and iron-overloaded pregnant women and children.
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