Who else may benefit from iron supplementation?

    Written by:
    Wyatt Brown, Giulia Guerrini

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Nick Milazzo
    Last Updated: April 23, 2025

    Supplemental iron may be beneficial for children who live in areas with high anemia prevalence, frequent blood donors, women who are at risk of deficiency, and individuals who are following vegetarian or vegan diets due to the lower bioavailability of iron in plant-based foods. However, evidence that supports the effectiveness of supplementation in maintaining iron levels is limited.

    While most people obtain adequate iron from their diet, there are situations where iron supplementation may be required.[1] For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends daily oral iron supplementation for all children living in areas where anemia prevalence exceeds 40%.

    Frequent blood donation can also deplete iron levels, potentially leading to anemia, and therefore supplementation may be necessary, especially for people at high risk of deficiency, such as women.[2][3] However, evidence that iron supplementation is effective in preserving iron levels is still weak.

    Finally, individuals following a vegetarian or vegan diet may need to increase their iron intake,[1] mainly because plant-based foods contain non-heme iron, which is not as bioavailable as the heme iron found in meat.