title: [Dietary supplement of iron for iron deficiency].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A low supply of iron in the diet may result in iron deficiency and mild iron-deficiency anaemia in healthy individuals. Women are more susceptible than men because of menstrual iron loss. We compared the effect of a low dose of iron, administered as a dietary supplement, with a high pharmacological dose of iron to otherwise healthy individuals with iron deficiency and mild iron deficiency anaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a randomised, double-blind trial conducted in 2000-2001, 73 women and three men with iron deficiency received either 27.6 mg of iron consisting of ferrous fumarate enriched with 13% haem iron, or 100 mg ferrosulphate daily for 12 weeks. Blood samples were analysed four times in the course of the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median ferritin value rose by 13 and 7 μg/l in the high-dose and low-dose group, respectively. The increase in ferritin was significantly higher in the high-dose than in the low dose group ( < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the change in Hb, serum-iron or serum-iron binding capacity. The median haemoglobin value increased by 0.4 g/100 ml in both groups. Gastrointestinal side effects were experienced by 58% in the high-dose group and 35% in the low-dose group. Four subjects in the high-dose group and one in the low-dose group broke off the treatment because of side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A supplement of low-dose iron is enough to increase iron stores in cases of nutritional iron deficiency in healthy individuals and to optimise haemoglobin. High-dose iron caused the largest increase in iron stores. Low-dose iron resulted in the least side effects.
authors.affiliation: Klinisk institutt 2, Det medisinsk-odontologiske fakultet, Universitetet i Bergen, Norway. rune.ulvik@med.uib.no
authors.forename: Rune J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Ulvik
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: Tor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hervig
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005296:Ferrous Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006418:Heme / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013607:Tablets
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D013607:Tablets; D006418:Heme; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron