Effect of iron supplementation during lactation on maternal iron status and oxidative stress: A randomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the effect of iron-containing prenatal supplements taken postpartum on iron status and oxidative stress biomarkers in lactating women.
Results Summary
Iron supplementation moderately improved iron status, particularly in women without elevated CRP, and increased hemoglobin levels without significantly increasing oxidative stress. No significant differences were observed in hepcidin, isoprostane, or 8-OHdG levels between groups.
Population
Lactating women (n = 114)
Effective Dosage
27 mg of iron daily (either with or between meals)
Duration
Approximately 3.5 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
iron-containing prenatal vitamin-mineral supplements taken postpartum | increase | iron status | lactating women | moderately | moderately increased | #1 |
iron-containing prenatal vitamin-mineral supplements taken postpartum | increase | Hb | lactating women | - | increased | #2 |
iron-containing prenatal vitamin-mineral supplements taken postpartum | no change | oxidative stress | lactating women | no significant | did not significantly increase | #3 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron taken between meals (Fe-B) | increase | Hb | lactating women | +2.5 vs. -3.7 g/L | trend toward a greater change | #4 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | increase | Hb | lactating women | +1.4 g/L | greater change | #5 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | increase | TfSat | lactating women | - | trends toward greater changes | #6 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | increase | total plasma iron | lactating women | - | trends toward greater changes | #7 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | no change | hepcidin | lactating women | - | no significant differences | #8 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | no change | isoprostane | lactating women | - | no significant differences | #9 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | no change | 8-OHdG | lactating women | - | no significant differences | #10 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | no change | ferritin | lactating women with elevated CRP at baseline | - | no significant differences | #11 |
iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus 27 mg of iron (combined groups) | increase | ferritin | lactating women without elevated CRP at baseline | - | increased more | #12 |
We examined the effect of iron-containing prenatal vitamin-mineral supplements taken postpartum on biomarkers of iron status and oxidative stress. Lactating women (n = 114) were randomly assigned to consume daily one iron-free prenatal vitamin-mineral supplement plus either 27 mg of iron or placebo for approximately 3.5 months. The placebo group took the tablets between meals, while those given iron took the tablets either with (Fe-W) or between meals (Fe-B). Blood and urine samples were collected before and after the supplementation period to analyze hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, hepcidin, transferrin saturation (TfSat), total plasma iron, and biomarkers of oxidative stress (isoprostane and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)) and inflammation (C-reactive protein (CRP) and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP)). There was a trend toward a greater change in Hb among women in the Fe-B group compared to placebo (+2.5 vs. -3.7 g/L, respectively, p = 0.063). When the iron groups were combined, there was a greater change in Hb (+1.4 g/L) compared to placebo (p = 0.010). There were trends toward greater changes in TfSat (p = 0.087) and total plasma iron (p = 0.065) in the iron groups compared to placebo, yet no significant differences between the three groups in change in hepcidin (p = 0.291), isoprostane (p = 0.319), or 8-OHdG (p = 0.659), nor in change in ferritin among those with elevated CRP at baseline (60% of women; p = 0.946); among those without elevated CRP (40% of women), ferritin increased more in the iron groups compared to placebo (p = 0.001). Iron consumption during lactation moderately increased iron status, particularly among women without elevated CRP, and increased Hb, but did not significantly increase oxidative stress.