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Oral lactoferrin as a treatment of pediatrics' anemia resulted from chronic kidney diseases: a randomized controlled

Sahar Kamal Hegazy1, Mai Salah El-Din Koura2, Mohamed Shokry Elharoun3

  • 1Professor of Clinical Pharmacy-Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.

Scientific Reports
|February 5, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Oral lactoferrin effectively treats pediatric anemia caused by chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study found it comparable to intravenous iron dextran, offering a potentially better oral option for managing pediatric anemia.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Hematology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Anemia is a common complication in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD), negatively impacting prognosis and quality of life.
  • Current treatments, primarily injectable iron, carry potential side effects.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are needed for managing anemia in pediatric CKD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of oral lactoferrin versus intravenous (IV) iron dextran in treating anemia associated with pediatric CKD.
  • To evaluate changes in hematological and biochemical markers following treatment with oral lactoferrin and IV iron dextran.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, parallel clinical trial involving 60 pediatric patients with CKD-related anemia.
  • Group 1 received 100 mg oral lactoferrin daily for 3 months.
  • Group 2 received 50 mg IV iron dextran three times weekly for 3 months.

Main Results:

  • Both oral lactoferrin and IV iron dextran showed effectiveness in treating pediatric CKD-induced anemia.
  • Oral lactoferrin demonstrated significant improvements in hemoglobin, RBCs, MCH, iron, RDW-SD, MCHC, IL-6, and GDF-15 within its group.
  • IV iron dextran showed significant changes in iron, GFR, IL-6, GDF-15, and RDW-SD within its group. No significant inter-group differences were noted after 3 months.

Conclusions:

  • Oral lactoferrin is an effective treatment for pediatric CKD-related anemia, showing comparable results to IV iron dextran.
  • Lactoferrin offers a promising oral alternative to injectable iron formulations for this patient population.
  • Further research may explore long-term outcomes and optimal dosing strategies for oral lactoferrin in pediatric anemia.

Keywords:
AnemiaChronic kidney diseaseIV iron dextranLactoferrinPediatrics

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