Significantly less gastrointestinal side effects were reported with lactoferrin treatment .
No significant differences existed with regard to other outcomes .
In conclusion , for pregnant women with IDA , daily oral bovine lactoferrin is just as good as ferrous sulfate in improving hematological parameters with fewer gastrointestinal side effects .
This systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to evaluate the efficacy of daily oral bovine lactoferrin versus daily oral ferrous iron preparations for treatment of iron deficiency anemia ( IDA ) during pregnancy .
Lactoferrin versus ferrous sulphate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: a randomized clinical trial
Abstract Objective : This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lactoferrin in comparison to ferrous sulphate for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia ( IDA ) during pregnancy . Material s and methods : This prospect i ve , r and omized , parallel-group , single-center study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Menoufia University Hospital , Egypt and included a total of 200 pregnant women in the second trimester with IDA who were enrolled and r and omly assigned either to receive 150 mg of dried ferrous sulphate capsules or lactoferrin 250 mg capsules once daily for eight consecutive weeks . The primary efficacy parameter was the amount of increase in hemoglobin concentration by 4 and 8 weeks , the adverse effects related to iron therapy and the patient compliance to the treatment . Results : Total increase in Hb after 2 months with lactoferrin was higher ( 2.26 ± 0.51 g/dL ) compared to ferrous sulfate ( 1.11 ± 0.22 g/dL ) ( p < 0.001 ) . Gastrointestinal adverse events occurred more frequently with ferrous sulphate than the lactoferrin group ( p < 0.001 ) . The number of women requesting change the drug was higher in the ferrous sulphate group ( p < 0.001 ) . Conclusion : Lactoferrin was more effective than ferrous sulfate over a two-month period in pregnant women with IDA , with fewer gastrointestinal adverse events and better treatment acceptability
Significantly less gastrointestinal side effects were reported with lactoferrin treatment .
No significant differences existed with regard to other outcomes .
In conclusion , for pregnant women with IDA , daily oral bovine lactoferrin is just as good as ferrous sulfate in improving hematological parameters with fewer gastrointestinal side effects .
This systematic review and meta- analysis aim ed to evaluate the efficacy of daily oral bovine lactoferrin versus daily oral ferrous iron preparations for treatment of iron deficiency anemia ( IDA ) during pregnancy .