Iron fortification

Abstract

Iron deficiency involves an insufficient supply of iron to cells. This report focuses on iron fortification programs but draws heavily on evidence from iron supplementation programs because evidence on the effect of iron fortification directly is lacking in some cases. Iron fortification of staple foods leads to decreases in iron deficiency and anemia in the general population. There is moderate evidence that iron supplementation of primary-school-aged children has positive effects on cognitive development in the short run for children who are anemic at baseline. Overall, there is insufficient evidence for cognitive benefits in children under the age of 3 years or for adults. There is some evidence that daily oral iron supplementation of pregnant women reduces maternal anemia and iron deficiency at term. Fortification may have additional benefits, including improved birth outcomes, and long-term cognitive effects on children born to fortification-receiving mothers, but evidence is currently insufficient to say with certainty. Iron fortification has several potential negative effects, but our best guess is that they are small in magnitude. Cost-effectiveness may be within the range of programs GiveWell would consider recommending funding in the future, but this is uncertain. – AI-generated abstract.