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 .
Safety and efficacy of lactoferrin versus ferrous sulphate in curing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in hereditary thrombophilia pregnant women: an interventional study
Objective Evaluate the safety and efficacy of bovine lactoferrin ( bLf ) versus the ferrous sulphate st and ard intervention in curing iron deficiency ( ID ) and ID anaemia ( IDA ) in pregnant women affected by hereditary thrombophilia ( HT ) . Design Interventional study . Setting Secondary -level hospital for complicated pregnancies in Rome , Italy . Population 295 HT pregnant women ( ≥18 years ) suffering from ID/IDA . Methods Women were enrolled in Arm A or B in accordance with their personal choice . In Arm A , 156 women received oral administration of 100 mg of bLf twice a day ; in Arm B , 139 women received 520 mg of ferrous sulphate once a day . Therapies lasted until delivery . Main outcome measures Red blood cells , haemoglobin , total serum iron , serum ferritin ( haematological parameters ) were assayed before and every 30 days during therapy until delivery . Serum IL-6 , key factor in inflammatory and iron homeostasis disorders , was detected at enrolment and after therapy at delivery . Possible maternal , foetal , and neonatal adverse effects were assessed . Results Haematological parameters were significantly higher in Arm A than in Arm B pregnant women ( P ≤ 0.0001 ) . Serum IL-6 significantly decreased in bLf-treated women and increased in ferrous sulphate-treated women . BLf did not exert any adverse effect . Adverse effects in 16.5 % of ferrous sulphate-treated women were recorded . Arm A women experienced no miscarriage compared to five miscarriages in Arm B women . Conclusions Differently from ferrous sulphate , bLf is safe and effective in curing ID/IDA associated with a consistent decrease of serum IL-6 . The absence of miscarriage  among bLf-treated women provided an unexpected benefit . Trial registration : Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01221844
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 .