Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 12, 2026
A Piglet Model of Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
Published on: May 16, 2015
Oral supplementation with Sucrosomial® Iron improves the iron status of preterm piglets delivered by cesarean section
Xiuying Wang1, Paweł Lipiński1, Magdalena Ogłuszka2
1Laboratory of Iron Molecular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 05552 Jastrzębiec, Poland. r.starzynski@ighz.pl.
Insights
Premature infants often face iron deficiency. Sucrosomial® Iron (SI) shows promise in improving iron status and regulating iron metabolism in preterm piglets, comparable to ferrous sulfate without adverse effects.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology
- Nutritional science
- Hematology
Background:
- Premature infants have underdeveloped iron stores, increasing risk of iron deficiency anemia.
- Sucrosomial® Iron (SI) is an oral iron formulation with high bioavailability and tolerability.
- Understanding iron homeostasis in preterm neonates is crucial for effective supplementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare iron status between preterm and full-term piglets.
- To evaluate the efficacy of Sucrosomial® Iron (SI) in managing iron homeostasis in preterm piglets.
- To assess the safety and comparative effects of SI versus ferrous sulfate.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of iron parameters in preterm and full-term piglets.
- Administration of SI or ferrous sulfate to supplemented groups from day 4 to 10 post-birth.
- Analysis of blood and tissue samples on day 11 for iron indicators, red blood cell indices, and ferritin levels.
Main Results:
- Preterm piglets exhibited poor growth, iron deficiency anemia, and altered iron metabolism compared to full-term piglets.
- SI supplementation partially improved iron deficiency and contributed to tissue iron accumulation in preterm piglets.
- SI demonstrated comparable efficacy to ferrous sulfate without inducing inflammatory or oxidative stress.
Conclusions:
- SI effectively alleviates iron imbalances in preterm piglets by modulating the hepcidin-ferroportin axis.
- SI is a safe and promising oral iron supplement for premature infants, addressing both functional deficiency and tissue iron accumulation.
- The study highlights distinct iron regulation mechanisms in preterm neonates, emphasizing the need for tailored supplementation strategies.
Abstract:
Premature infants are more likely to develop iron deficiency caused by an inadequate iron storage due to shortened pregnancy. Sucrosomial® Iron (SI) is an oral iron formulation of ferric pyrophosphate with high bioavailability and tolerability. This research compared the iron status of preterm and full-term piglets and evaluated the effects of SI on iron homeostasis in the early postnatal period. Eighteen preterm piglets (born via cesarean section on gestation day 109) and twelve full-term piglets (natural birth) were divided into five groups (n = 6 piglets per group): full-term/preterm piglets without iron supplementation, full-term/preterm piglets supplemented with SI (2 mg Fe per piglet per day, days 4-10), and preterm piglets supplemented with ferrous sulfate (2 mg Fe per piglet per day, days 4-10). Samples were collected on day 11. Preterm piglets showed poor growth and low total body iron content, and they developed iron deficiency anemia, as indicated by decreased red blood cell indices and plasma iron parameters. The iron deficiency was partially improved by SI supplementation. Interestingly, higher hepatic and splenic non-heme iron content, accompanied by increased tissue and plasma ferritin, were found in preterm piglets compared to full-term piglets. SI also contributed to tissue iron accumulation in preterm piglets. Functional iron deficiency and iron accumulation in tissues make the regulation of iron metabolism in preterm piglets different from that in full-term ones. SI can alleviate the negative effects of iron imbalances caused by premature birth by regulating the hepcidin-ferroportin axis. In addition, SI did not induce inflammatory or oxidative responses, and its effects are comparable to those of the classic iron supplement, ferrous sulfate. These results indicate that SI is a promising iron supplement for improving the iron status of premature infants.
