Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial

Nils Milman; Lisbeth Jønsson; Pernille Dyre; Palle Lyngsie Pedersen; Lise Grupe Larsen

doi:10.1515/jpm-2013-0153

Article

Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial

Nils Milman , Lisbeth Jønsson , Pernille Dyre , Palle Lyngsie Pedersen and Lise Grupe Larsen

Published/Copyright: October 24, 2013

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From the journal Journal of Perinatal Medicine Volume 42 Issue 2

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effects of oral ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron/day vs. ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron/day in the prevention of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women. Design: Randomized, double-blind, intention-to-treat study. Setting: Antenatal care clinic. Sample: 80 healthy ethnic Danish pregnant women.

Methods: Women were allocated to ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg elemental iron (Aminojern^®) (n=40) or ferrous sulfate 50 mg elemental iron (n=40) from 15 to 19 weeks of gestation to delivery. Hematological status (hemoglobin, red blood cell indices) and iron status (plasma iron, plasma transferrin, plasma transferrin saturation, plasma ferritin) were measured at 15–19 weeks (baseline), 27–28 weeks and 36–37 weeks of gestation. Main outcome measures: Occurrence of ID (ferritin <15 μg/L) and IDA (ferritin <12 μg/L and hemoglobin <110 g/L).

Results: At inclusion, there were no significant differences between the bisglycinate and sulfate group concerning hematological status and iron status. The frequencies of ID and IDA were low and not significantly different in the two iron groups. The frequency of gastrointestinal complaints was lower in the bisglycinate than in the sulfate group (P=0.001). Newborns weight was slightly higher in the bisglycinate vs. the sulfate group (3601±517 g vs. 3395±426 g, P=0.09).

Conclusions: In the prevention of ID and IDA, ferrous bisglycinate was not inferior to ferrous sulfate. Ferrous bisglycinate in a low dose of 25 mg iron/day appears to be adequate to prevent IDA in more than 95% of Danish women during pregnancy and postpartum.

Keywords: anemia; ferritin; food; hemoglobins; iron; iron-deficiency; newborn; pregnancy; supplement

Key Message: In the prevention of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women, low-dose ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron/day appears to be as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron/day, most likely due to the higher bioavailability of bisglycinate iron

Corresponding author: Nils Milman, Senior Consultant, Lindevangen 87B, DK-2830 Virum, Denmark, Tel.: +45 20103577, Fax: +45 32719401, E-mail: nils.milman@webspeed.dk

Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the assistance of the staff at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Næstved Hospital and the assistance with statistical analyses by Chief Physician Anne-Mette Hvas, Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Skejby University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.

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The authors stated that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.

Received: 2013-6-25

Accepted: 2013-9-8

Published Online: 2013-10-24

Published in Print: 2014-3-1

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https://doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2013-0153

Keywords for this article

anemia; ferritin; food; hemoglobins; iron; iron-deficiency; newborn; pregnancy; supplement; In the prevention of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women, low-dose ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron/day appears to be as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron/day, most likely due to the higher bioavailability of bisglycinate iron