Iron supplementation for unexplained fatigue in non-anaemic women: double blind randomised placebo controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the subjective response to iron therapy in non-anaemic women with unexplained fatigue.


METHODS
Double blind randomised placebo controlled trial.


METHODS
Academic primary care centre and eight general practices in western Switzerland.


METHODS
144 women aged 18 to 55, assigned to either oral ferrous sulphate (80 mg/day of elemental iron daily; n=75) or placebo (n=69) for four weeks.


METHODS
Level of fatigue, measured by a 10 point visual analogue scale.


RESULTS
136 (94%) women completed the study. Most had a low serum ferritin concentration; <or= 20 microg/l in 69 (51%) women. Mean age, haemoglobin concentration, serum ferritin concentration, level of fatigue, depression, and anxiety were similar in both groups at baseline. Both groups were also similar for compliance and dropout rates. The level of fatigue after one month decreased by -1.82/6.37 points (29%) in the iron group compared with -0.85/6.46 points (13%) in the placebo group (difference 0.95 points, 95% confidence interval 0.32 to 1.62; P=0.004). Subgroups analysis showed that only women with ferritin concentrations <or= 50 microg/l improved with oral supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-anaemic women with unexplained fatigue may benefit from iron supplementation. The effect may be restricted to women with low or borderline serum ferritin concentrations.
Verdon
F
F
General Practice Unit, University of Lausanne, rue du Bugnon 44, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Burnand
B
B
Stubi
C-L Fallab
CL
Bonard
C
C
Graff
M
M
Michaud
A
A
Bischoff
T
T
de Vevey
M
M
Studer
J-P
JP
Herzig
L
L
Chapuis
C
C
Tissot
J
J
Pécoud
A
A
Favrat
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005296:Ferrous Compounds; C020748:ferrous sulfate; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron