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 .
Iron supplementation in pregnancy—does the preparation matter?
Objective To assess the use , side effects and discontinuation rates of iron preparations during pregnancy . Design Six hundred and twelve r and omly selected postpartum women completed a question naire on iron supplement use in the second and third trimesters . Results Of the 517 women ( 84.5 % ) reported using iron supplements , 453 were eligible for the study . The most common preparation was ferrous fumarate ( 46.8 % , P < 0.01 ) , followed by ferrous sulfate ( 31.8 % ) , ferric polymaltose ( 12.4 % ) , and ferric bisglycinate ( 7.3 % ) . Almost half the participants ( 45 % ) reported at least one adverse effect , especially constipation ( 27.4 % , P < 0.01 ) , nausea ( 10.8 % ) . Multivitamin preparations and ferric bisglycinate were associated with the fewest side effects ( 23.7 , 21.2 % respectively , P < 0.01 ) , and ferrous fumarate and immediate-release ferrous sulfate with the most ( 56.3 , 53.7 % respectively ) . Eighty-three women discontinued their originally prescribed iron preparation , mainly ( 89 % ) due to side effects . Discontinuation rates were lowest for the multivitamin and ferric bisglycinate ( 10.5 , 9.1 % , respectively ) . In most cases , the specific preparation was recommended by the women ’s physician ( 76 % ) . Conclusion Ferrous fumarate-containing multivitamin preparations and ferric bisglycinate , although infrequently recommended as the first-line of iron supplementation , may be associated with less side effects and better compliance
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 .