priors.science/reviews/iron-status

Iron Status

The current evidence on 10 claims, ordered from most established to most contested. Each score is the panel’s evidence certainty: how firmly the literature supports the claim as stated.

10claims tracked
102primary papers reviewed
4 Oct 2026latest evidence review
1 Established · 5 Likely · 3 Uncertain · 1 Doubtful  |  four-reviewer panel · PICO Framework
ClaimStandingEvidence certaintyCorpus
Oral iron corrects iron-deficiency anaemiaIdaEstablished87%14
Intravenous iron raises haemoglobin fasterIdaLikely82%11
Antenatal iron cuts maternal anaemiaPregLikely78%13
Alternate-day dosing improves absorptionIdaLikely74%12
Iron cuts fatigue in non-anaemic womenFuncLikely72%10
Intravenous iron cuts heart-failure hospitalisationIvdLikely70%13
Intravenous iron beats oral in inflammatory bowel diseaseIvdLong-standingUncertain60%10
Untargeted iron raises infection riskFuncLong-standingUncertain60%10
Iron aids endurance in athletesFuncLong-standingUncertain55%10
Intravenous iron reduces low birthweightPregDoubtful45%11
Track Iron Status.
These claims are re-checked against new research as it is published. Track this topic for the full review, including each claim’s challenge and the papers behind it.
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Standing: what the evidence certainty means
Established≥ 85%Strong, consistent evidence. Unlikely to change.
Likely70–84%Well supported, with some gaps or indirect evidence.
Uncertain50–69%Mixed or limited evidence. Genuinely open.
Doubtful30–49%Little support; the weight of evidence leans against it.
Refuted< 30%The evidence contradicts it. Confidently false as stated.
A standing changes only when the score moves past a boundary by more than 4 points, the re-scoring noise floor; a score within 4 points of a boundary keeps its previous standing.
Where the evidence sits in time
Long-standingMost of this evidence is older than the rest of this field.