The Effect of Iron Supplements on the Gut Microbiome of Non-pregnant Women of Reproductive Age: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Abstract
Abstract Objectives Blanket iron supplementation during pregnancy is not recommended in Australia. However, many women take iron as part of a prenatal supplement, often at doses >60 mg/day. Iron supplementation may negatively affect the maternal intestinal microbiome by increasing the abundance of pathogenic bacteria and decreasing commensal bacteria. It is not known if iron supplements alter the microbiome of pregnant women. Here we aim to determine if iron supplementation alters the gut microbiome of non-pregnant women of childbearing age. Methods In this two-arm parallel design, double-blind, randomized controlled trial, women (18–45 y) were randomized to take an iron supplement (60 mg elemental iron) or a placebo capsule for 21 days. The primary outcome was microbiota beta-diversity (paired-sample weighted UniFrac dissimilarity) between iron and placebo groups in stool samples collected at baseline and 21 days. A secondary outcome was to determine the effect of iron on Escherichia-Shigella genus relative abundance. Results Eighty-two women were randomized, 40 and 42 to iron and placebo groups, respectively. Attrition was 80% of their study supplements. On Day 21, there was no difference in mean (95% CI) weighted UniFrac between iron and placebo groups [0.003 (−1.4, 0.7) P = 0.52]. There was no difference in the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella after 21 days between groups. Conclusions For the outcomes we assessed, we did not find an effect of iron…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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