Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29626044›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2018

Efficacy of iron supplementation on fatigue and physical capacity in non-anaemic iron-deficient adults: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Brett L Houston, Daryl Hurrie, Jeff Graham, Brittany Perija, Emily Rimmer, Rasheda Rabbani, Charles N Bernstein, Alexis F Turgeon, Dean A Fergusson, Donald S Houston and 2 more

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 66 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
66citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
8.2field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05909891 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2023, after this paper: background citation

The Effect of Education Given to Individuals with Iron Deficiency Anemia on Treatment Compliance and Fatigue

TypeinterventionalSponsorAtaturk UniversityRan2023 to 2024Enrolled63ConditionsFatigue, Adherence, MedicationArmsPatient training
NCT07263529 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Risk of Anemia Development and Clinical Effects of Oral Iron Therapy in Women (18-55 Years) With Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency

TypeinterventionalSponsorIstanbul University - CerrahpasaRan2025 to 2026Enrolled60ConditionsNon-Anemic Iron DeficiencyArmsDietary Intervention (2 months), Oral Elemental Iron (Ferrous Sulfate) 80 mg/day
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

66 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 124 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Guideline
  3. Pooled it
  4. Guideline
  5. Pooled it
  6. Intravenous iron therapy for non-anaemic, iron-deficient adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2019
    Pooled it
  7. Trial
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  12. Functional status of women with and without potentially life-threatening maternal conditions after 6 months postpartum: A cohort study.International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics · 2026
    Article
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  15. Review
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6 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Brett L HoustonDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology and Haematology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Daryl HurrieApplied Health Sciences, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Jeff GrahamDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology and Haematology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Brittany PerijaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Emily RimmerDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology and Haematology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Rasheda RabbaniGeorge & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba/Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Charles N BernsteinDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Alexis F TurgeonPopulation Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, Trauma-Emergency-Critical Care Medicine, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-5675-8791
Dean A FergussonClinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI); Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Donald S HoustonDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology and Haematology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Ahmed M Abou-SettaGeorge & Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba/Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Ryan ZarychanskiDepartment of Internal Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology and Haematology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
CancerCare Manitoba · CAUniversity of Manitoba · CAWinnipeg Regional Health Authority · CAThe Quebec Population Health Research Network · CAUniversity of Ottawa · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveIron supplementation in iron-deficiency anaemia is standard practice, but the benefits of iron supplementation in iron-deficient non-anaemic (IDNA) individuals remains controversial. Our objective is to identify the effects of iron therapy on fatigue and physical capacity in IDNA adults.

designSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

settingPrimary care.

participantsAdults (≥18 years) who were iron deficient but non-anaemic.

interventionsOral, intramuscular or intravenous iron supplementation; all therapy doses, frequencies and durations were included. COMPARATORS: Placebo or active therapy.

resultsWe identified RCTs in Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, SportDiscus and CAB Abstracts from inception to 31 October 2016. We searched the WHO's International Clinical Trials Registry Platform for relevant ongoing trials and performed forward searches of included trials and relevant reviews in Web of Science. We assessed internal validity of included trials using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the external validity using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology. From 11 580 citations, we included 18 unique trials and 2 companion papers enrolling 1170 patients. Using a Mantel-Haenszel random-effects model, iron supplementation was associated with reduced self-reported fatigue (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.38; 95% CI -0.52 to -0.23; I

conclusionIn IDNA adults, iron supplementation is associated with reduced subjective measures of fatigue but not with objective improvements in physical capacity. Given the global prevalence of both iron deficiency and fatigue, patients and practitioners could consider consumption of iron-rich foods or iron supplementation to improve symptoms of fatigue in the absence of documented anaemia. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42014007085.

Indexed as

FatigueIronAdultFemaleFerritinsHumansIron DeficienciesMaleRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicFerritinsIronexercise capacityfatigueiron deficiencyiron supplementationsystematic review

Identifiers

PMID29626044
PMCPMC5892776
OpenAlexW2796265630

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.