A Controlled Trial of Iron Therapy in Sideropenia

Abstract

It has been shown that there is a high incidence of latent iron deficiency (sideropenia) in the female population. To assess the role of this deficiency as a cause of symptoms a double blind trial of iron and placebo therapy was carried out on 20 sideropenic women presenting with symptoms.

The incidence of all the symptoms studied fell and there was no significant difference between iron and placebo in producing improvement.

A significant rise in haemoglobin level occurred only in response to iron therapy and this was reversed on cessation of iron. No significant changes in haemoglobin occurred in response to the placebo.

It has been concluded that while iron has no specific effect on the symptoms associated with sideropenia, it will produce a significant rise in haemoglobin level, reverse biochemical defects and, in a minority, prevent development of iron deficiency anaemia.