Does Improvement of Low Serum Ferritin Improve Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome in a Cohort of Pediatric Patients?
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether oral iron supplementation improves restless leg/restless sleep symptoms in pediatric patients with low serum ferritin levels.
Results Summary
The study found a significant increase in ferritin levels after 8 weeks of iron supplementation, but only a modest, nonsignificant improvement in RLS symptoms. No correlation was observed between changes in RLS scores and ferritin levels.
Population
Pediatric patients (ages 5-18) with restless legs/restless sleep symptoms and low serum ferritin (<50 ng/mL).
Effective Dosage
Daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) – exact dosage not specified.
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | increase | ferritin | 47 patients (age 5-18 years) exhibiting restless legs/restless sleep symptoms and low serum ferritin levels (< 50 ng/mL) | 40.0 versus 23.0 ng/mL | statistically significantly different | #1 |
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | decrease | Pediatric Restless Legs Syndrome Severity Scale score | 47 patients (age 5-18 years) exhibiting restless legs/restless sleep symptoms and low serum ferritin levels (< 50 ng/mL) | 4.0 versus 6.0 | statistically significantly lower | #2 |
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | no change | Restless Legs Syndrome score | Sixteen patients met criteria for definite RLS | 9.5 versus 7.0 | not determined to be significant | #3 |
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | increase | ferritin | Sixteen patients met criteria for definite RLS | 25.0 versus 42.5 ng/mL | significant change | #4 |
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | no change | change in RLS score and ferritin level | Sixteen patients met criteria for definite RLS | rho = -.39 | no correlation was observed | #5 |
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | no change | restless sleep and RLS symptomatology | children exhibiting restless sleep and RLS symptomatology | - | modest, yet nonsignificant improvement | #6 |
daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) | increase | ferritin levels | children exhibiting restless sleep and RLS symptomatology | - | significant improvement | #7 |
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine whether an oral iron supplement improves restless leg/restless sleep symptoms in a pediatric population. METHODS: In a cohort study, 47 patients (age 5-18 years) exhibiting restless legs/restless sleep symptoms and low serum ferritin levels (< 50 ng/mL) were given a daily oral iron supplement (ferrous sulfate + vitamin C) and re-evaluated 8 weeks later. A diagnosis of definite Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) was determined based on criteria established by the International RLS Study Group. Using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and Spearman rho, the change and association between the measures of Pediatric Restless Legs Syndrome Severity Scale and serum ferritin levels were also examined. RESULTS: Overall, the median change and distribution of ferritin was statistically significantly different after 8 weeks of treatment (40.0 versus 23.0 ng/mL, P < .0001). Median RLS score was also statistically significantly lower from baseline to follow-up (4.0 versus 6.0, P = .0283). Sixteen patients met criteria for definite RLS; however, the change in RLS score was not determined to be significant in our population (9.5 versus 7.0, P = .0558), despite significant change in ferritin (25.0 versus 42.5 ng/mL, P < .0001). In addition, no correlation was observed between change in RLS score and ferritin level (rho = -.39, P = .1362). CONCLUSIONS: In preliminary findings, we found a modest, yet nonsignificant improvement in children exhibiting restless sleep and RLS symptomatology, despite significant improvement in ferritin levels. Though not statistically significant, the findings can lend to the suggested benefit of iron supplementation in patients with RLS; however, clinical judgment and further research is necessary. CITATION: Rosen GM, Morrissette S, Larson A, Stading P, Barnes TL. Does improvement of low serum ferritin improve symptoms of restless legs syndrome in a cohort of pediatric patients? J Clin Sleep Med. 2019;15(8):1149-1154.