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Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review
Devina June1, Alvin Timothy Konstantin1, Levina Arthauli Lumbanradja1
1School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, North Jakarta, Indonesia.
Insights
Lactoferrin (Lf) supplementation effectively treats iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children, improving iron levels and reducing constipation compared to iron alone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hematology
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a prevalent nutritional issue in young children.
- Lactoferrin (Lf) is a potential therapeutic supplement for IDA, but its efficacy in pediatric populations requires systematic review.
- Existing research on Lf for pediatric IDA lacks comprehensive evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and evaluate the effects of lactoferrin supplementation on children diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia.
- To assess the impact of Lf on key hematological and iron indices in pediatric IDA.
- To compare the safety and efficacy of Lf versus traditional iron supplementation or placebo.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Ovid databases.
- Keywords included variations of 'lactoferrin,' 'anemia,' and 'children.'
- Included studies were limited to clinical trials published between 2012 and 2022.
Main Results:
- Eleven studies (10 RCTs, 1 non-randomized trial) were included.
- Lactoferrin (Lf) or Lf combined with elemental iron significantly increased serum ferritin (SF) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels compared to iron-only or placebo groups.
- Lf treatment was associated with a notable reduction in constipation, alongside other potential adverse events like vomiting and anorexia.
Conclusions:
- Lactoferrin demonstrates superior efficacy in treating pediatric iron deficiency anemia, evidenced by improved hematological and iron status.
- Lf supplementation offers a favorable safety profile with fewer adverse effects, particularly constipation, compared to conventional treatments.
- The findings support the use of lactoferrin as a valuable therapeutic option for managing IDA in children.
Background:
Anemia is a common nutritional problem in children, especially those under five. Lactoferrin (Lf) as a supplement in treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) has been studied, but its results in children have not been reviewed. This review aims to evaluate the effect of lactoferrin on children with IDA.
Methods:
PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO and Ovid databases were searched using a variation of keywords: lactoferrin, anemia, and children. The literature selected must be clinical trial-based in design. The years of the studies published were limited to 2012 and 2022.
Results:
Eleven studies were included in the final systematic review, consisting of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and 1 non-randomized trial. Serum ferritin (SF) and hemoglobin (Hb) were found to be increased in groups treated with Lf or a combination of Lf and elemental iron compared to iron only or placebo supplementation. Adverse events such as constipation, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain were found; particularly, a significant decrease in constipation is seen in Lf-treated groups.
Conclusions:
This study supports Lf as a superior treatment for IDA in children regarding the improvement in hematological and iron indices and fewer adverse effects.
