The Effect of Oral Iron Supplementation on Gut Microbial Composition: a Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial among Cambodian Women of Reproductive Age.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to examine the effects of two oral iron supplements with differing bioavailability on the gut microbiomes of Cambodian women of reproductive age.
Results Summary
The study compared ferrous sulfate and ferrous bisglycinate with a placebo over 12 weeks, assessing their impact on gut microbiomes, but specific results regarding efficacy or adverse effects were not detailed in the abstract.
Population
Cambodian women of reproductive age (WRA) in a region with high anemia prevalence.
Effective Dosage
Not specified in the abstract.
Duration
12 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
untargeted iron supplementation | decrease | anemia | women of reproductive age (WRA) in countries where anemia prevalence is greater than 40% | - | recommends | #1 |
iron supplements | decrease | bioavailability | - | - | have poor bioavailability | #2 |
iron supplements | increase | iron in the colon | - | the majority | remains unabsorbed | #3 |
providing iron to individuals | decrease | health outcomes | - | - | may be more harmful than helpful | #4 |
two oral iron supplements with differing bioavailability | neutral | gut microbiomes | Cambodian WRA | - | examined the effects | #5 |
The World Health Organization recommends untargeted iron supplementation for women of reproductive age (WRA) in countries where anemia prevalence is greater than 40%, such as Cambodia. Iron supplements, however, often have poor bioavailability, so the majority remains unabsorbed in the colon. The gut houses many iron-dependent bacterial enteropathogens; thus, providing iron to individuals may be more harmful than helpful. We examined the effects of two oral iron supplements with differing bioavailability on the gut microbiomes in Cambodian WRA. This study is a secondary analysis of a double-blind, randomized controlled trial of oral iron supplementation in Cambodian WRA. For 12 weeks, participants received ferrous sulfate, ferrous bisglycinate, or placebo. Participants provided stool samples at baseline and 12 weeks. A subset of stool samples (