[New aspects on preventive iron supplementation in normal pregnancy].

The paper gives an overview of iron metabolism and supplementation in pregnancy. Pregnancy leads to an increased demand for iron which is not normally met by the iron content in food in Norway and other western countries. The authors discuss the possible advantages of supplementation, as well as adverse reactions. Iron supplementation may have beneficial effects on cerebral function in neonates. High doses should not be given because of possible adverse effects. Low doses of iron (50-100 mg a day) should be offered from the beginning of the 20th week to pregnant women with an S-ferritin concentration between 20 micrograms/l and 60 micrograms/l. Approximately 20% of all pregnant women have large enough stores of iron to make supplementation unnecessary. S-ferritin measurement early in pregnancy is recommended to determine therapeutic strategies.