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.