Universal low-dose iron supplementation for pregnant women recommended by CDC.
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
UNIVERSAL IRON SUPPLEMENTATION DURING PREGNANCY RECOMMENDED BY CDC in a report issued in the April 3 Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention analysis, "Recommendations to Prevent and Control Iron Deficiency" in the U.S., recommends for primary prevention of iron deficiency during pregnancy that all women "start oral, low-dose (30 mg/day) supplements of iron at the first prenatal visit," be encouraged to "eat iron-rich foods and foods that enhance iron absorption" and follow low-iron diets "in optimizing their dietary iron intake." For secondary prevention, CDC recommends that women be screened for anemia at their first prenatal care visit, "using anemia criteria for the specific stage of pregnancy."