Iron
The verdict
Standard treatment for iron-deficiency anaemia, which itself impairs ovulation; the specific claim that supplementing beyond correcting deficiency boosts fertility rests on one unreplicated observational study.
An essential mineral; iron-deficiency anaemia is common in reproductive-age women, especially in India.
What the evidence shows
One large prospective cohort (Nurses' Health Study II, ~18,500 women) found nonheme iron supplement users had a lower risk of ovulatory infertility (RR 0.60) — but this is observational, not a trial, and later studies (Hahn 2019, Jiménez-Cardozo 2023) did not consistently replicate the association.
Standard-care angle: iron-deficiency anaemia itself is well-established to impair ovulation and overall pregnancy health — this is a "get tested, treat if deficient" item, not a blind supplementation recommendation. Excess iron has its own risks in non-deficient people.
Evidence tier
Standard care🟢 Recommended regardless of any fertility-boosting claim — a baseline, not a supplement bet.
Sources
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