Bioavailability of carbonyl iron: a randomized, double-blind study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Nutritional Science
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Iron-deficiency anemia is a prevalent condition affecting numerous individuals, particularly women.
• Oral iron supplementation is the standard treatment, with ferrous sulfate being a common formulation.
• Alternative iron formulations, such as carbonyl iron, require comparative efficacy and safety assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of carbonyl iron versus ferrous sulfate in treating iron-deficiency anemia.
• To evaluate key hematological parameters and iron metabolism markers after oral iron therapy.
• To assess the bioavailability of carbonyl iron relative to ferrous sulfate.

Main Methods:

• A randomized, double-blind study involving 49 female blood donors with iron-deficiency anemia.
• Participants received equal doses of either carbonyl iron or ferrous sulfate.
• Regular monitoring of hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, reticulocyte count, platelet count, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in side-effect prevalence between carbonyl iron and ferrous sulfate groups.
• Comparable mean changes in hemoglobin concentration and other hematological parameters were observed.
• After 16 weeks, the mean increase in hemoglobin iron was similar (p = 0.2).
• Carbonyl iron exhibited high bioavailability, estimated at approximately 70% of that of ferrous sulfate.

Conclusions:

• Carbonyl iron and ferrous sulfate demonstrate similar efficacy and safety profiles for treating iron-deficiency anemia.
• Both formulations lead to comparable improvements in hematological parameters.
• Carbonyl iron presents a viable alternative oral iron supplement with substantial bioavailability.