Suplementação de ferro e sua associação com a incidência de diabetes mellitus gestacional Iron supplementation and its association with the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus

GARCIA, A. C.; ROSCHEL, H.; RAMOS, S.; BENATTI, F. B. Iron supplementation and its association with the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus. Nutrire: rev. Soc. Bras. Alim. Nutr. = J. Brazilian Soc. Food Nutr., Sao Paulo, SP, v. 37, n. 2, p. 215-226, ago. 2012. Iron requirements are significantly increased during pregnancy, which makes the daily dietary reference intake difficult to achieve through diet. Because iron deficiency may cause iron-deficiency anemia, which increases perinatal mortality, iron supplementation has been broadly adopted as a standard procedure during pregnancy. However, caution should be exercised as recent evidence suggests that iron excess may hamper fetus development and increase the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Literature is still scarce and it is inconclusive on this matter as the risks and benefits of prophylactic iron supplementation during pregnancy are still a source of controversy. However, it is imperative that a greater attention be given to the iron circulating levels individually. This practice would provide a better evaluation of the necessity and dosage determination of iron supplementation during pregnancy, being, therefore, potentially less likely to trigger the excess of iron-induced deleterious effects.