Quantitative relations between baseline iron status , study duration , and iron dose on changes in iron-status biomarkers , which were generated from the meta-analyses , can be used to predict effects of trials of iron supplementation and fortification and to design iron-intervention programs
BACKGROUND The response of status biomarkers to an increase in iron supply depends on several physiologic and environmental factors , which make it difficult to predict the outcome of an intervention .
OBJECTIVE We assessed effects of baseline iron status , sex , menopausal status , duration of intervention , iron form , and daily dose on the change in iron status in response to iron supplementation .
Response in serum ferritin and haemoglobin to iron therapy in blood donors
Seven hundred seventeen healthy male blood donors regularly donating four or more units a year were surveyed for haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels . One hundred fiftyone ( 21 % ) had a haemoglobin less than 13.5 g/dl and were therefore disqualified from further blood donation , having a mean serum ferritin of 28 μg/liter . Of the remaining 566 donors with haemoglobin levels equal to or greater than 13.5 g/dl , the mean serum ferritin was 33 μg/liter , although in 299 ( 53 % ) the value was less than 28 μg/liter . To document response to iron therapy  46 donors with haemoglobin levels equal to or greater than 13.5 g/dl were stratified into those with the lowest iron stores ( group 1 ; n = 23 ) , defined as a serum ferritin less than 20 μg/liter , and controls ( group 2 ; n = 23 ) , with serum ferritin between 50 and 150 μg/liter . Within each stratum donors r and omly received ferric polymaltose at a dose of 100 mg elemental iron twice daily for 56 days ( groups 1a and 2a ) or an identical iron‐free placebo tablet administered on the same schedule ( groups 1b and 2b ) . Iron therapy in the iron‐deficient group ( group 1a : n = 11 ) result ed in a significant rise in haemoglobin ( p = .03 ) and iron stores reflected in serum ferritin ( p = .002 ) compared to those receiving placebo ( group 1b ) . In the control group iron therapy or placebo was without significant effect . Thus , ferric polymaltose preparation is bioavailable and is notable for the virtual absence of gastrointestinal tract side effects
Quantitative relations between baseline iron status , study duration , and iron dose on changes in iron-status biomarkers , which were generated from the meta-analyses , can be used to predict effects of trials of iron supplementation and fortification and to design iron-intervention programs
BACKGROUND The response of status biomarkers to an increase in iron supply depends on several physiologic and environmental factors , which make it difficult to predict the outcome of an intervention .
OBJECTIVE We assessed effects of baseline iron status , sex , menopausal status , duration of intervention , iron form , and daily dose on the change in iron status in response to iron supplementation .