Nevertheless, about 13% of the patients in this study still received oral iron supplementation as part of their treatment, even though no benefit is expected due to enhanced levels of hepcidin and, therefore, reduced oral iron absorption.2,14–16 In this study, severe anaemia and minimally reduced ferritin levels (i.e. <324 μg/l) are associated with increased oral iron prescription by GPs. This evidence concerns the gene HAMP and anemia.