There were no statistically significant differences in adverse effects , length of hospitalisation or mortality .
Conclusion Oral iron raises haemoglobin levels in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia by 0.35 g/dL after 4–6 weeks , but it is unclear if this results in tangible health benefits
Background Oral iron supplementation is used widely in older people despite observational studies suggesting it is ineffective .
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine if oral iron therapy is effective in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia .
Are we giving too much iron? Low-dose iron therapy is effective in octogenarians.
PURPOSE Elderly patients are vulnerable to the dose-dependent adverse effects of iron replacement therapy . Our study examines whether low-dose iron therapy can efficiently resolve iron-deficiency anemia in patients over the age of 80 years and reduce adverse effects . SUBJECTS AND METHODS Ninety hospitalized patients with iron-deficiency anemia were r and omized to receive elemental iron in daily doses of 15 mg or 50 mg as liquid ferrous gluconate or 150 mg of ferrous calcium citrate tablets for 60 days . Thirty control patients without anemia were given 15 mg of iron for 60 days . A 2-hour iron absorption test was performed after the initial dose . Hemoglobin and ferritin levels were measured on day 1 , 30 , and 60 after initiating therapy . Each patient completed a weekly question naire regarding drug-induced adverse effects . RESULTS Serum iron rose significantly in the anemic patients beginning 15 minutes after the first dose but not in nonanemic patients . Two months of iron treatment significantly increased hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations similarly in all 3 groups of iron-deficiency anemia patients ( for example , hemoglobin levels rose from 10.0 g/dL to 11.3 g/dL with 15 mg/d of iron therapy and from 10.2 g/dL to 11.6 g/dL with 150 mg/d ) . Abdominal discomfort , nausea , vomiting , changes in bowel movements , and black stools were significantly more common at higher iron doses . CONCLUSIONS Low-dose iron treatment is effective in elderly patients with iron-deficiency anemia . It can replace the commonly used higher doses and can significantly reduce adverse effects
There were no statistically significant differences in adverse effects , length of hospitalisation or mortality .
Conclusion Oral iron raises haemoglobin levels in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia by 0.35 g/dL after 4–6 weeks , but it is unclear if this results in tangible health benefits
Background Oral iron supplementation is used widely in older people despite observational studies suggesting it is ineffective .
Objective The aim of this systematic review was to determine if oral iron therapy is effective in elderly people with iron deficiency anaemia .