Effects of low-dose iron supplementation in women with low serum ferritin concentration

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Effects of low-dose iron supplementation in women with low serum ferritin concentration

Fogelholm et al., 1994 | Eur J Clin Nutr | Rct

Citation

Fogelholm M, Suominen M, Rita H. Effects of low-dose iron supplementation in women with low serum ferritin concentration. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1994-Oct;48(10):753-6

Abstract

We studied effects of dose and treatment duration during low-dose iron supplementation in premenopausal, non-pregnant women, with initial serum ferritin and haemoglobin concentrations < 20 micrograms x l-1 and > or = 120 g x l-1, respectively. The study was randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled. Three groups completed a 6-month study: placebo (n = 27), FE-9 (9 mg iron x day-1, n = 18) and FE-27 group (27 mg iron x day-1, n = 19). The supplement consisted of 11% heme and 89% inorganic iron. In FE-27, serum ferritin increased from (mean, 95% confidence interval) 11.8 (9.7; 14.4) to 25.3 (18.6; 34.4) micrograms x l-1 in 1 month, and remained stable after that (ANOVA: group effect, P = 0.0003). In both FE-9 and FE-27, blood haemoglobin levels increased from 136 (132; 140) to 142 (139; 145) g x l-1 in 1 month, remaining constant after that (group effect, P = 0.001). Hence, the 27 mg daily dose of organic/inorganic iron corrected both mild anaemia and storage iron depletion, whereas the 9 mg dose did not affect iron stores. Elongation of treatment duration above 1 month brought about only minor changes.

Key Findings

Elongation of treatment duration above 1 month brought about only minor changes.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 27
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Combinations
  • Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic
  • Female
  • Ferritins
  • Ferrous Compounds
  • Heme
  • Hemoglobins
  • Humans
  • Time Factors

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: iron-anemia

Provenance

  • PMID: 7835330
  • DOI: (not available)
  • PMCID: Not in PMC
  • Verified: 2026-04-09 via PubMed E-utilities API

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09