Can eating more red meat increase iron levels? Original paper

In this meta-analysis of 10 clinical trials (9 randomized controlled trials and 1 nonrandomized controlled trial) in adults, eating more red meat increased hemoglobin levels (+2.4 grams/L) but not ferritin levels.

This Study Summary was published on June 2, 2025.

The study

The studies included a total of 397 participants (average age of 28; 81% women, 19% men). In 7 trials, the participants had an iron deficiency. The weekly intake of cooked red meat was 255 to 1,841 grams. In most of the trials, the comparator was a usual diet, a diet low in bioavailable iron, or a diet rich in other types of meat (e.g., fish and poultry). The intervention duration ranged from 8 weeks to 1 year.

The risk of bias was unclear in 9 trials and high in 1 trial.

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The results

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This Study Summary was published on June 2, 2025.