Iron supplements don't affect incidence of infections in children

Iron supplementation has no apparent harmful effect on the overall incidence of infectious illnesses in children. Concerns have been expressed that people who receive iron supplementation acquire more infections. In view of the widespread prevalence of iron deficiency in children and its adverse health consequences Gera and Sachdev (p 1142) carried out a systematic review of 28 international randomised controlled trials to examine this question. On average, iron supplementation did not significantly increase the incidence of overall infectious illnesses, but the risk of acquiring diarrhoea was 11% higher. Iron fortification of foods merits further evaluation as the safest method of supplementation among children.

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Relevant Article

Effect of iron supplementation on incidence of infectious illness in children: systematic review

Tarun Gera and H P S Sachdev
BMJ 2002 325: 1142. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]