Iron Preparations for Reversing Iron Deficiency Anemia in Infants and Children

A new article discussed various therapeutic iron preparations available in the market with differing pharmacokinetic and safety profiles. Despite a lack of conclusive evidence regarding the superiority of one preparation over another, this study aimed to analyze the effects of these preparations on parameters such as hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and serum ferritin. 

The systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) included eight studies involving 495 children. 

The pooled analysis indicated that ferrous sulfate significantly increases hemoglobin compared to other iron compounds, superior to iron poly-maltose complex (IPC). However, ferrous sulfate is associated with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects than IPC. Other iron compounds are more efficacious than IPC in raising hemoglobin levels. No significant differences are observed in iron indices like – MCV, MCH, and serum ferritin among the various iron preparations.

Despite the low-quality evidence, ferrous sulfate is more efficacious than other compounds in managing iron deficiency anemia in young infants, children, and adolescents. However, their gastrointestinal side effects are more significant. The authors emphasized the need for further research to explore the efficacy and safety of lesser-known compounds like ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate.

Source: Subramanian AC, Thirunavukkarasu A, Sekar M. Indian Pediatrics. 2023:S097475591600539-.