Quality -of-life scores ( Piper Fatigue Scale MD 0.73 , 95 % CI 0.29 to 1.18 ; I2 = 0 % ; studies = 3 ) and peak oxygen consumption ( MD 2.77 mL/kg/min , 95 % CI -0.89 to 6.43 ; I2 = 36 % ; 2 studies , 32 participants ) were associated with very low- quality evidence , and we remain uncertain about the role of intravenous iron for these metrics .
Current evidence is insufficient to show benefit of intravenous iron preparations for the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency across a variety of patient population s , beyond stating that it may result in a small , clinical ly insignificant increase in haemoglobin concentration .
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies , and has a number of physiological manifestations .
Early , or non-anaemic iron deficiency can result in fatigue and diminished exercise capacity .
Oral iron preparations have a high incidence of intolerable side effects , and are ineffective in certain forms of iron deficiency .
Consequently , intravenous iron preparations are increasingly used in the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency .
The newer , more stable iron preparations in particular purport to have a lower incidence of side effects , and are now used across a range of different patient population s. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of intravenous iron therapy in the treatment of adults with non-anaemic iron deficiency .
Intravenous iron for the treatment of fatigue in nonanemic, premenopausal women with low serum ferritin concentration.
This is the first study to investigate the efficacy of intravenous iron in treating fatigue in nonanemic patients with low serum ferritin concentration . In a r and omized , double-blinded , placebo-controlled study , 90 premenopausal women presenting with fatigue , serum ferritin ≤ 50 ng/mL , and hemoglobin ≥ 120 g/L were r and omized to receive either 800 mg of intravenous iron (III)-hydroxide sucrose or intravenous placebo . Fatigue and serum iron status were assessed at baseline and after 6 and 12 weeks . Median fatigue at baseline was 4.5 ( on a 0 - 10 scale ) . Fatigue decreased during the initial 6 weeks by 1.1 in the iron group compared with 0.7 in the placebo group ( P = .07 ) . Efficacy of iron was bound to depleted iron stores : In patients with baseline serum ferritin ≤ 15 ng/mL  , fatigue decreased by 1.8 in the iron group compared with 0.4 in the placebo group ( P = .005 ) , and 82 % of iron-treated compared with 47 % of placebo-treated patients reported improved fatigue ( P = .03 ) . Drug-associated adverse events were observed in 21 % of iron-treated patients and in 7 % of placebo-treated patients ( P = .05 ) ; none of these events was serious . Intravenous administration of  iron improved fatigue in iron-deficient , nonanemic women with a good safety and tolerability profile . The efficacy of intravenous iron was bound to a serum ferritin concentration ≤ 15 ng/mL. This study was registered at the International St and ard R and omized Controlled Trial Number Register ( www.is rct n.org ) as IS RCT N78430425
Quality -of-life scores ( Piper Fatigue Scale MD 0.73 , 95 % CI 0.29 to 1.18 ; I2 = 0 % ; studies = 3 ) and peak oxygen consumption ( MD 2.77 mL/kg/min , 95 % CI -0.89 to 6.43 ; I2 = 36 % ; 2 studies , 32 participants ) were associated with very low- quality evidence , and we remain uncertain about the role of intravenous iron for these metrics .
Current evidence is insufficient to show benefit of intravenous iron preparations for the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency across a variety of patient population s , beyond stating that it may result in a small , clinical ly insignificant increase in haemoglobin concentration .
BACKGROUND Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies , and has a number of physiological manifestations .
Early , or non-anaemic iron deficiency can result in fatigue and diminished exercise capacity .
Oral iron preparations have a high incidence of intolerable side effects , and are ineffective in certain forms of iron deficiency .
Consequently , intravenous iron preparations are increasingly used in the treatment of non-anaemic iron deficiency .
The newer , more stable iron preparations in particular purport to have a lower incidence of side effects , and are now used across a range of different patient population s. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of intravenous iron therapy in the treatment of adults with non-anaemic iron deficiency .