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 .
EFFECTS OF MODEST IRON LOADING ON IRON INDICES IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS.
Intravenous ( iv ) iron administration is typically indicated in individuals who have iron deficiency refractory to oral iron . However , in certain chronic disease states , it may be beneficial to administer iv iron to individuals who are not strictly iron deficient . The purpose of this study was to define a dose-response relationship between clinical indices of iron status and modest loading with iv iron in healthy , iron-replete participants . This was a double-blind , controlled study involving 18 male participants . Participants were block r and omised 2:1 to the iron and saline ( control ) groups . Participants in the iron group received 250 mg of iv iron , once a month for six months , provided that their ferritin remained < 300 µg/L and their transferrin saturation remained < 45 % . Otherwise they received a saline infusion , as did the control participants . Iron indices were measured monthly during the study . The pulmonary vascular response to sustained hypoxia and total hemoglobin mass were measured before , at three months ( hemoglobin mass only ) and at six months , as variables that may be affected by iron loading . Serum ferritin was robustly elevated by iv iron by 0.21 µg/L/mg of iron delivered ( 95 % CI : 0.15 - 0.26 µg/L/mg ) , but the effects on all other iron indices did not reach statistical significance . The pulmonary vascular response to sustained hypoxia was significantly suppressed by iron loading at six months , but the hemoglobin mass was unaffected . We conclude that the robust effect on ferritin provides a quantitative measure for the degree of iron loading in iron-replete individuals
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 .