No one needs vitamins or supplements: 'there is no such thing as dietary supplements', the body makes its own vitamins, and vitamins are on the forbidden list.
Original statement
مافيش يا جماعه حاجه اسمها مكملات غذائيه فيش حاجه اسمها مكملات غذائيه انا ما باخدش حاجه خالص انت اصلا مخلوق ما تخدش حاجه | بدوا تطعيمات ملتي فيتامين لتقويه المناعه مافيش حجه ده اسمه عبط ده اسمه عبط لتقويه الغباء وانا كده بشجعه وانا بصراحه ما بشجع العبط حاجه اسمها متيم انا باشا عايش فيتامينات بطلعها بنفسي انا بدي فرصه لجسمي يصنع حاجته بنفسه
verbatim according to source. Translation by the project; the Arabic wording is authoritative.
Translation
No one needs vitamins or supplements: 'there is no such thing as dietary supplements', the body makes its own vitamins, and vitamins are on the forbidden list.
Origin
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- السرطان ؟ الأنسولين ؟ المفاصل؟ (Open source)
- Published
- 17 March 2025
- Timestamp
- not available (transcript has no timings)
- Attribution uncertainty
- Machine-generated or CC transcript of a live stream; wording may contain transcription errors; context is conversational. original_ar joins separate verbatim passages with ' | '.
- Claimed mechanism
A correct diet supplies everything; the body synthesises its needs.
- Claimed health effect
No need for any supplement.
- Population concerned
Everyone, including pregnant women and children.
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Diverging source versions
بدوا تطعيمات ملتي فيتامين لتقويه المناعه مافيش حجه ده اسمه عبط ده اسمه عبط لتقويه الغباء وانا كده بشجعه وانا بصراحه ما بشجع العبط حاجه اسمها متيم انا باشا عايش فيتامينات بطلعها بنفسي انا بدي فرصه لجسمي يصنع حاجته بنفسه
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr.D Clinics - Diaa Al Awady is live! نوبة النهجان و ضيق النفس (Open source)
- Published
- 19 January 2025
- Timestamp
- 1:00:21 (location in the original video’s automatic YouTube caption track; confirms where the words occur, not who speaks)
رفضوا رفضوا تناول مكملات الحديد للحامل مع وجود انيميا ممنوع يا استاذه ممنوع مافيش حاجه اسمها مكملات حديد ما فيش حاجه اسمها مكملات النظام الغذائي اللي محتاج مكملات يبقى ناقص
- Source status
- Video transcript (own words)
- Attribution
- Elawady (machine transcript)
- Video
- Dr Diaa Al Awady د ضياء العوضي is live! الموت المفاجيء (Open source)
- Published
- 14 July 2025
- Timestamp
- 0:00:06 (location in the original video’s automatic YouTube caption track; confirms where the words occur, not who speaks)
ممنوع أي أدوية كيميائية: خافض الحرارة، المسكنات، الفيتامينات، المكملات الصناعية، أدوية الحموضة، الأسبرين ويجب استشارة طبيبك الخاص وتحت اشرافه
- Source status
- Third-party site (unofficial)
- Attribution
- Third-party site (unofficial by its own statement)
- Origin
- https://mytayibat.com/forbidden
- Attribution uncertainty
- Lowest attribution level; the site states it is unofficial.
حذّر بشدة من المكملات الغذائية الفموية، معتبرًا إياها غير ضرورية وقد تضر الكبد، وشدد على أن التغذية السليمة هي الأساس… ويرفض المكملات الغذائية وبروتين مصل اللبن (واي بروتين)، ومكملات الكولاجين والكرياتين والأوميجا 3.
- Source status
- Archive quote (no location given)
- Attribution
- Elawady (archive paraphrase; source video not given)
- Origin
- https://eltayebat.com/rule/oral-supplements/
Scientific assessment
False – The statement contradicts the robust evidence.
Certainty of evidence: high – Further research is very unlikely to change the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
Supplements are never needed; the body makes its own vitamins.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
For well-nourished adults, routine supplements usually add little for disease prevention (see C-SUP-01); multivitamins do not 'boost' immunity in people without deficiency.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
There are clear, evidence-based indications: periconceptional folic acid (high certainty), vitamin D for infants/children and at-risk groups, B12 in deficiency (e.g. pernicious anaemia, long-term acid suppression, diets without animal foods), iron in iron-deficiency anaemia. The body cannot produce most vitamins.
4. What remains unclear?
The optimal vitamin D dose for empirical supplementation remains uncertain (Endocrine Society 2024).
5. Which studies support it?
A-SUP-30 and O'Connor 2022 (for healthy non-deficient adults only).
6. Which studies contradict it?
MRC 1991 (I-SUP-01), De-Regil 2015 Cochrane (I-SUP-02; NTD RR 0.31), USPSTF 2023 (I-SUP-03), Endocrine Society 2024 (I-SUP-05), Finkelstein 2024 Cochrane (I-SUP-101; iron reduces iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy), WHO recommendation on iron and folic acid in pregnancy (I-SUP-105), Niklewicz 2024 (I-SUP-124; functional B12 deficiency in vegans, corrected by supplements), Dror & Allen 2008 (I-SUP-125; infant B12 deficiency from maternal deficiency causes developmental regression that responds to B12). Medication-related B12 deficiency (metformin, A-ODD-04; acid suppression, A-PPI-09).
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
German recommendations include folic acid before and in early pregnancy and vitamin D prophylaxis for infants (not fetched here).
8. What is known about Egypt?
Anaemia affects about half of pregnant women in Egypt (I-LEG-127). Folic acid and iron in pregnancy are WHO-recommended standard care; Egyptian national guidance was not fetched.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Supplements should be targeted: tested deficiency, pregnancy planning, infancy, specific diseases. A blanket ban is unsafe, particularly combined with a diet that excludes many nutrient-rich foods.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
Folic acid before and in early pregnancy prevents neural tube defects (MRC trial: 72% protective effect, RR 0.28; Cochrane: RR 0.31, high-quality evidence; USPSTF 2023 grade A, high certainty). The Endocrine Society 2024 suggests vitamin D supplementation for children and adolescents to prevent rickets and in pregnancy. Vitamin B12 deficiency and iron-deficiency anaemia require supplementation. The human body cannot make most vitamins (exceptions: vitamin D with sunlight, niacin from tryptophan).
- Source quality
Video statements, quote and third-party list consistent; contradicted by high-certainty evidence.
- Regional transferability
Applies everywhere.
- Individual exceptions
People on restrictive diets are at higher risk of deficiencies; the third-party Tayebat food list excludes eggs, most dairy, all poultry, legumes, leafy greens and many vegetables (red meat, lamb liver and wild sea fish are allowed), which strengthens the case for testing, especially in pregnancy and childhood.
- Regional scope of the claim
- general (biological/medical)
- Last reviewed
- 26 October 2026 provisional
Scientific evidence in detail
Scientifically refuted – High-quality evidence shows the opposite, or the claim contradicts well-established physiology.
Research question: Is it true that no one needs vitamins or supplements because the body makes its own vitamins - specifically, do periconceptional folic acid, iron in pregnancy, B12 in people without animal foods and vitamin D in children have proven benefits?
Research question in detail (PICO)
- Population
- Everyone, including pregnant women, infants, vegans and people with deficiencies
- Intervention or exposure
- Targeted supplementation (folic acid, iron, B12, vitamin D)
- Comparison
- No supplementation
- Geographic scope
- universal biology
- Outcomes
- Neural tube defects
- Anaemia in pregnancy
- B12 deficiency and infant neurological damage
- Rickets
Study results as reported by the authors. Our assessment follows below.
What speaks for the claim?
USPSTF evidence review 2022
O'Connor EA et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727272 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2021.15650 Systematic reviewabstract checkedUSPSTF review: for healthy, non-deficient adults most supplements do not prevent CVD or cancer.
- Actual result
- Little or no benefit for most agents.
- Methodological quality
- high
- Relevance
- indirect (only healthy non-deficient adults)
- Limitations
- Does not address deficiency or pregnancy.
What speaks against the claim?
Folic acid and birth defects (Cochrane)
De-Regil LM et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 · PMID 26662928 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD007950.pub3 Meta-analysisabstract checkedCochrane: periconceptional folic acid prevents neural tube defects.
- Actual result
- RR 0.31 (0.17-0.58), high-quality evidence.
- Methodological quality
- high
- Relevance
- direct
Iron tablets in pregnancy: updated Cochrane review
Finkelstein JL et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024 · PMID 39145520 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6 Meta-analysisabstract checkednewly addedCochrane 2024: iron in pregnancy reduces iron-deficiency anaemia.
- Actual result
- RR 0.41 (0.26-0.63).
- Methodological quality
- high
- Relevance
- direct
Vitamin B12 status in vegans
Niklewicz A et al.. Nutr Bull 2024 · PMID 39373282 · DOI 10.1111/nbu.12712 Meta-analysisabstract checkednewly addedMeta-analysis: vegans have functional B12 deficiency; supplements correct it.
- Actual result
- Serum B12 SMD -0.72; homocysteine +0.57.
- Methodological quality
- moderate
- Relevance
- direct for people without animal foods
- Limitations
- Tayebat diet is not vegan.
What does the overall evidence say?
Editorial assessment based on the studies above – not itself a study result.
Which position is better supported?
Some supplements are clearly needed: folic acid around conception, iron for iron deficiency in pregnancy, B12 for people without animal foods or with malabsorption (e.g. metformin, long-term acid suppression), vitamin D for children.
Why some studies weigh more
High-certainty RCT evidence (folic acid) and guidelines (WHO, USPSTF, Endocrine Society) outweigh the general observation that healthy adults rarely benefit.
Is a causal relationship established? Yes, established Folic acid-NTD prevention is among the best-established causal effects in nutrition.
Remaining uncertainty
Optimal vitamin D dose.
Justified conclusion
The universal statement is false; the human body cannot make most vitamins (exceptions: vitamin D with sunlight; niacin from tryptophan).
Does this depend on the country?
- General biological effects
- Vitamin requirements are universal.
- Eating habits
- Restrictive diets (such as the Tayebat lists excluding eggs, poultry, legumes and leafy greens) increase deficiency risk.
- Origin of the food
- Not relevant.
- Contaminants
- Not relevant.
- National production conditions
- Not relevant.
- Legal rules
- Folic acid in pregnancy is recommended by WHO and USPSTF; Egyptian guidance not fetched.
- Actual monitoring data
- Egypt: anaemia in about half of pregnant women (I-LEG-127).
A regional difference is supported by robust data.
Statistical re-check
- CI symmetry; relative reduction – RR 0.31 (0.17-0.58) log-symmetric; 69% relative reduction. recalculated
Certainty of the overall evidence (GRADE, simplified)
- Main outcome
- Neural tube defects with periconceptional folic acid
- Starting level
- high (randomised trials)
- Result
- high
Simplified assessment by a single reviewer, following the GRADE approach; not a formal GRADE panel. GRADE rates the body of evidence for one outcome, not individual studies.
Clinical guidelines and official statements checked
- WHO: Daily iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy (eLENA; recommendation from WHO antenatal care guideline 2016) (2024) · Original publication
Daily oral iron (30-60 mg elemental iron) and folic acid (400 micrograms) are recommended for pregnant women to prevent maternal anaemia, puerperal sepsis, low birth weight and preterm birth; folic acid should start as early as possible, ideally before conception, to prevent neural tube defects. - USPSTF: Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement (I-SUP-03) (2023) · Original publication
High certainty of substantial net benefit: all persons planning to or who could become pregnant should take daily folic acid (abstract re-read via PubMed efetch 2026-10-26). - Endocrine Society: Vitamin D for the Prevention of Disease (I-SUP-05) (2024) · Original publication
Suggests empiric vitamin D for ages 1-18 (rickets prevention), adults >75, pregnancy and high-risk prediabetes; daily rather than intermittent high doses in people >50; against empiric supplementation above the DRI in healthy adults <75 (abstract re-read 2026-10-26; two errata recorded). - NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12 fact sheet for health professionals · Original publication could not be retrieved; content not used
Search strategy
Documented literature searches for this review (search strings in the original database syntax).
| Database | Date | Search | Looking for | Hits | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | (TITLE:"vitamin B12" OR TITLE:"vitamin B-12" OR TITLE:cobalamin) AND (TITLE:vegan* OR TITLE:vegetarian* OR TITLE:"plant-based") AND (PUB_TYPE:"Systematic Review" OR PUB_TYPE:"Meta-Analysis" OR PUB_TYPE:"Review") | contradicting evidence | 21 | |
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | (TITLE:"vitamin B12" OR TITLE:cobalamin) AND (TITLE:"neurological" OR TITLE:"irreversible" OR TITLE:"infant" ) AND (TITLE:vegan OR TITLE:vegetarian OR TITLE:deficiency) AND PUB_TYPE:"Review" | contradicting evidence | 7 | |
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | (TITLE:"vitamin B12" OR TITLE:"vitamin B-12" OR TITLE:cobalamin) AND (TITLE:infant* OR TITLE:infancy) AND (TITLE:neurodevelopment OR TITLE:neurological OR TITLE:development) | contradicting evidence | 30 | |
| PubMed | 26 October 2026 | ("folic acid"[ti]) AND ("neural tube"[ti]) AND (guideline[pt] OR meta-analysis[pt] OR systematic review[pt]) AND 2015:2026[dp] | contradicting evidence | 10 | |
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | ("vitamin supplement*" OR "dietary supplement*") AND (TITLE:unnecessary OR TITLE:"no benefit" OR TITLE:"well-nourished" OR TITLE:"food first") AND (PUB_TYPE:"Review" OR PUB_TYPE:"Systematic Review") | supporting evidence | 11 | |
| PubMed | 26 October 2026 | (vitamin*[ti] OR supplement*[ti]) AND (unnecessary[tiab] OR "no benefit"[tiab] OR "not recommended"[tiab]) AND (healthy adults[tiab] OR well-nourished[tiab]) AND (systematic review[pt] OR guideline[pt]) | supporting evidence | 1 | |
| Europe PMC | 26 October 2026 | TITLE:"antioxidant supplements" AND TITLE:mortality AND JOURNAL:"Cochrane Database Syst Rev" | supporting evidence | 2 | |
| NIH ODS website | 26 October 2026 | https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/ (HTTP 403, not used) | guidelines | 0 | |
| WHO website | 26 October 2026 | https://www.who.int/tools/elena/interventions/daily-iron-pregnancy (fetched) | guidelines | 1 |
Open questions
Egyptian antenatal and infant vitamin D guidance not fetched.
How deeply was this checked?
12 linked studies: 0 checked in full text (0 of them with a structured risk-of-bias assessment), 12 on the basis of the abstract, 0 bibliographically only. No formal assessment with two independent reviewers and no independent human expert review has taken place yet.
Last scientific review: 26 October 2026
History of the verdict
- 25 October 2026 · Phase 1 · Initial assessment: False (high)
- 26 October 2026 · Phase 4 (systematic evidence review) · Re-examined with extended evidence; verdict unchanged: False (high)
New evidence (Cochrane 2024 iron, WHO recommendation, B12 in vegans, infant B12 deficiency, Egyptian anaemia prevalence) adds to an already high-certainty verdict; bottom line sharpened.
New sources: I-SUP-101 I-LEG-127 I-SUP-105 I-SUP-124 I-SUP-125
In plain language
It is true that healthy people who eat a varied diet rarely need vitamin pills. But there are important exceptions. Folic acid taken before and in early pregnancy prevents serious birth defects of the spine and brain – this is among the best-proven facts in nutrition. Babies and children may need vitamin D, and people with low B12 or iron need treatment. The body cannot make most vitamins itself.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (2)
-
USPSTF 2022: vitamins for prevention
US Preventive Services Task Force et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727271 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2022.8970Guideline / position statementcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract checked★ key studyRecommends against beta-carotene and vitamin E; evidence insufficient for most others.
Does the study support the specific claim? Yes · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Prevention guidance.
- How was the study done?
Guideline.
- What was actually found?
D for beta-carotene, vitamin E; I for others.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Don't take for prevention.
- What are the study's limitations?
Not for pregnancy/deficiency.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Advice on deficiency or pregnancy.
-
USPSTF evidence review 2022
O'Connor EA et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727272 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2021.15650Systematic reviewindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studySupplements gave little or no protection; beta-carotene harmful; multivitamins slightly fewer cancers.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Supplement benefits/harms.
- How was the study done?
SR.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
739,803.
- What was actually found?
Little benefit; some harms.
- How large was the observed effect?
OR 0.93 MV cancer; 1.20 beta-carotene lung cancer.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Supplements are not a prevention strategy.
- What are the study's limitations?
Not for deficiency.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Mixed.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Effects in deficient people.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (10)
-
Folic acid prevents spina bifida (MRC trial)
MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Lancet 1991 · PMID 1677062Randomised controlled trialindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyFolic acid cut neural tube defects by 72%.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
NTD prevention.
- How was the study done?
RCT.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
1,817 women.
- What was actually found?
Fewer NTDs.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 0.28.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Folic acid before pregnancy is essential.
- What are the study's limitations?
High-risk women.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts blanket ban.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
-
Folic acid and birth defects (Cochrane)
De-Regil LM et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 · PMID 26662928 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD007950.pub3Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyFolic acid lowered neural tube defects by about 69%.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Folate and birth defects.
- How was the study done?
Cochrane.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
7,391.
- What was actually found?
Fewer NTDs.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 0.31.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Take folic acid when planning pregnancy.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUP-10.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Other anomalies.
-
USPSTF: folic acid before pregnancy
US Preventive Services Task Force et al.. JAMA 2023 · PMID 37526713 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2023.12876Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkabstract checkedAll who could become pregnant should take 400–800 µg folic acid daily (grade A).
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
NTD prevention.
- How was the study done?
Guideline.
- What was actually found?
Grade A.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Clear indication for a supplement.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUP-10.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
-
Endocrine Society 2024 vitamin D guideline
Demay MB et al.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024 · PMID 38828931 · DOI 10.1210/clinem/dgae290Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkabstract checkedSuggests vitamin D for children, pregnancy, people ≥75 and high-risk prediabetes.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Vitamin D for prevention.
- How was the study done?
Guideline.
- What was actually found?
Group-specific suggestions.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Some groups benefit.
- What are the study's limitations?
Conditional.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts blanket ban.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Doses.
-
Iron in pregnancy (Cochrane)
Peña-Rosas JP et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 · PMID 26198451 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub5Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyDaily iron reduced anaemia at term by 70%.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Iron in pregnancy.
- How was the study done?
Cochrane.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
43,274 women.
- What was actually found?
Less anaemia.
- How large was the observed effect?
RR 0.30.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Iron helps pregnant women.
- What are the study's limitations?
Low-quality evidence.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUP-09.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Birth outcome benefits.
-
Iron tablets in pregnancy: updated Cochrane review
Finkelstein JL et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024 · PMID 39145520 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyIn 57 trials with almost 49,000 pregnant women, daily iron reduced iron-deficiency anaemia at term from 18.4% to 5.0% and slightly reduced low birthweight.
Shows a clear, evidence-based indication for a supplement in pregnancy.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
To summarise all trials of daily iron tablets in pregnancy.
- How was the study done?
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials (Cochrane, 2024).
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
57 trials, 48,971 women.
- What was actually found?
Less anaemia and iron deficiency at term; slightly fewer low-birthweight babies; no clear effect on deaths or preterm birth.
- How large was the observed effect?
Iron-deficiency anaemia RR 0.41 (0.26-0.63); anaemia RR 0.30 (0.20-0.47); low birthweight RR 0.84 (0.72-0.99).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Iron tablets in pregnancy work for their main purpose: preventing and correcting iron deficiency and anaemia.
- What are the study's limitations?
Mostly preventive use; harms poorly reported; heterogeneity.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts the claim that iron supplements are forbidden or unnecessary in pregnancy.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
It does not show that every pregnant woman needs iron, nor that iron prevents deaths.
-
Anaemia in pregnant women in Egypt
Azzam A et al.. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2025 · PMID 39810098 · DOI 10.1186/s12884-024-07111-9Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyAbout half of pregnant women in Egyptian studies had anaemia measured by blood tests.
Regional context for deficiency risk in pregnancy.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Estimate anaemia in pregnancy.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
18 studies, 14,548 women.
- What was actually found?
49% anaemic.
- How large was the observed effect?
49% (42-57).
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Anaemia is common and must be diagnosed with a blood test.
- What are the study's limitations?
Heterogeneous studies.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts dismissing anaemia as gas.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Egypt-specific.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
It does not test the gas hypothesis directly.
-
WHO: iron and folic acid for every pregnancy
World Health Organization. WHO eLENA (web page) 2024Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkabstract checked★ key studyWHO recommends that pregnant women take daily iron (30-60 mg) and folic acid (0.4 mg), starting folic acid ideally before conception.
WHO recommends folic acid as early as possible, ideally before conception, to prevent neural tube defects.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: high · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
To state WHO's recommendation on iron and folic acid in pregnancy.
- How was the study done?
Guideline recommendation based on systematic reviews.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable.
- What was actually found?
Daily iron and folic acid recommended for all pregnant women.
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Taking iron and folic acid in pregnancy is standard, recommended care.
- What are the study's limitations?
Summary page only; national practice varies.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Directly contradicts banning iron or folic acid in pregnancy.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Global.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Does not replace individual medical advice.
-
Vitamin B12 status in vegans
Niklewicz A et al.. Nutr Bull 2024 · PMID 39373282 · DOI 10.1111/nbu.12712Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checkedAdult vegans had lower B12 and signs of B12 deficiency; those taking B12 supplements had much better values.
Vegans have functional B12 deficiency; supplements normalise biomarkers.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
To assess B12 status in vegans.
- How was the study done?
Meta-analysis of 17 studies.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Adult vegans and comparison groups.
- What was actually found?
Vegans more often B12-deficient; supplements correct this.
- How large was the observed effect?
Serum B12 SMD -0.72.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
People who eat no animal foods need a B12 supplement.
- What are the study's limitations?
Observational; lab markers only.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts C-SUP-10's universal rule.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Not about people who eat meat regularly.
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Vitamin B12 deficiency in babies
Dror DK et al.. Nutr Rev 2008 · PMID 18454811 · DOI 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00031.xNarrative reviewindependent cross-checkabstract checkedBabies of mothers with low B12 can develop serious brain and development problems, which improve quickly with B12.
Infant B12 deficiency (maternal deficiency) causes developmental regression treatable with B12.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
To review infant B12 deficiency.
- How was the study done?
Review of case reports.
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Published cases.
- What was actually found?
Neurological symptoms respond rapidly to B12.
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
B12 deficiency in pregnancy and breastfeeding must be treated.
- What are the study's limitations?
Case reports only.
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Contradicts 'no one needs supplements'.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Applicable.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot estimate how common this is.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)
No studies in this group.
Regional context
Germany / EU
German recommendations include folic acid before and in early pregnancy and vitamin D prophylaxis for infants (not fetched here).
Egypt
Anaemia affects about half of pregnant women in Egypt (I-LEG-127). Folic acid and iron in pregnancy are WHO-recommended standard care; Egyptian national guidance was not fetched.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
False This claim is false: folic acid around conception, iron for anaemia in pregnancy, vitamin B12 for people without animal foods and vitamin D for children are evidence-based, and the body cannot make most vitamins itself.
This statement concerns biological or medical relationships. The scientific assessment above applies regardless of the country; country-specific food data do not change it.
References
- Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.. US Preventive Services Task Force et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727271 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2022.8970
- Vitamin and Mineral Supplements for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.. O'Connor EA et al.. JAMA 2022 · PMID 35727272 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2021.15650
- Prevention of neural tube defects: results of the Medical Research Council Vitamin Study. MRC Vitamin Study Research Group.. MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. Lancet 1991 · PMID 1677062
- Effects and safety of periconceptional oral folate supplementation for preventing birth defects.. De-Regil LM et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 · PMID 26662928 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD007950.pub3
- Folic Acid Supplementation to Prevent Neural Tube Defects: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement.. US Preventive Services Task Force et al.. JAMA 2023 · PMID 37526713 · DOI 10.1001/jama.2023.12876
- Vitamin D for the Prevention of Disease: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.. Demay MB et al.. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024 · PMID 38828931 · DOI 10.1210/clinem/dgae290
- Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.. Peña-Rosas JP et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2015 · PMID 26198451 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub5
- Daily oral iron supplementation during pregnancy.. Finkelstein JL et al.. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024 · PMID 39145520 · DOI 10.1002/14651858.CD004736.pub6
- Anemia in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, determinants, and health impacts in Egypt.. Azzam A et al.. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2025 · PMID 39810098 · DOI 10.1186/s12884-024-07111-9
- Daily iron and folic acid supplementation during pregnancy (WHO e-Library of Evidence for Nutrition Actions, intervention page, last updated 26 July 2024). World Health Organization. WHO eLENA (web page) 2024
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of functional vitamin B12 status among adult vegans.. Niklewicz A et al.. Nutr Bull 2024 · PMID 39373282 · DOI 10.1111/nbu.12712
- Effect of vitamin B12 deficiency on neurodevelopment in infants: current knowledge and possible mechanisms.. Dror DK et al.. Nutr Rev 2008 · PMID 18454811 · DOI 10.1111/j.1753-4887.2008.00031.x