A new iron free treatment with oral fish cartilage polysaccharide for iron deficiency chronic anemia in inflammatory bowel diseases: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of a new oral preparation, highly concentrated in fish cartilage, in a group of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) patients with chronic iron deficient anemia.


METHODS
In an open label pilot study, we supple-mented a group of 25 patients (11 with Crohn's disease and 14 with ulcerative colitis) in stable clinical conditions and chronic anemia with a food supplement which does not contain iron but contains a standardized fraction of fish cartilage glycosaminoglycans and a mixture of antioxidants (Captafer Medestea, Turin, Italy). Patients received 500 mg, twice a day during meals, for at least 4 mo. Patients were suggested to maintain their alimentary habit. At time 0 and after 2 and 4 mo, emocrome, sideremia and ferritin were examined. Paired data were analyzed with Student's t test.


RESULTS
Three patients relapsed during the study (2 in the 3rd mo, 1 in the 4th mo), two patients were lost to follow up and two patients dropped out (1 for orticaria, 1 for gastric burning). Of the remaining 18 patients, levels of serum iron started to rapidly increase within the 2nd mo of treatment, P < 0.05), whereas serum ferritin and hemoglobin needed a longer period to significantly improve their serum levels (mo 4) P < 0.05. The product was safe, easy to administer and well tolerated by patients.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a potential new treatment for IBD patients with iron deficiency chronic anemia and warrant further larger controlled studies.
Belluzzi
Andrea
A
Gastroenterology Unit, University of Bologna, S.Orsola Hospital, Via Massarenti, Bologna 9-40138, Italy. belluzzi@aosp.bo.it
Roda
Giulia
G
Tonon
Francesca
F
Soleti
Antonio
A
Caponi
Alessandra
A
Tuci
Anna
A
Roda
Aldo
A
Roda
Enrico
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000737:chemistry*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005399:Fishes; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011134:Polysaccharides; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron