A review of studies from Indonesia indicates that guava juice combined with iron supplements can raise hemoglobin levels more than supplements alone. The findings point to a potential low-cost option for addressing anemia in developing regions.
Researchers analyzed 17 studies involving women and teenage girls. Participants who drank guava juice alongside iron supplements showed an average hemoglobin increase of 1.71 grams per deciliter. In five studies directly comparing groups, the combination raised levels by an additional 1.29 grams per deciliter compared with supplements by themselves.