Our results indicate that iron intake from food in pregnant
women was inadequate but supplement users consumed
an excessively high amount of iron from the
supplements. It is evident from the previous reports that
iron requirements during pregnancy cannot be satisfied
by iron from foods alone and iron supplementation is necessary
during pregnancy [42] and is helpful for adequate
fetal growth. In our study, total iron intake was lower
than the recommended level in women who did not consume
iron supplements and amongst the women with
iron intake below the RNI (24 mg), only 7% of them took
iron supplements