Who Should Take Iron With Cofactors?
Who Should Take Iron With Cofactors?
Iron is an important mineral for several proteins in the body, including haemoglobin which is involved in the transport of oxygen to tissues throughout the body.1 Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of anaemia.2 In Australia, 4.5% of people aged 18 years and over are at risk of anaemia, with women at greater risk than men.3
Who can benefit from iron supplementation?
- Children4-7
- Teenagers5,8
- Pregnant women9-11
- Athletes, especially female athletes12-15
- Vegetarians, especially premenopausal women16
- Coeliacs and those with gastrointestinal disorders/malabsorption.17 Note that
there is a high female preponderance in coeliac disease.18
- Women suffering from heavy or prolonged menstrual periods (menorrhagia)19
- Those who have deficiencies in iron,20 folic acid and vitamin B12,21 contributing
to anaemia. Anaemia and iron deficiency are more common in women than
men.22,23
Which form of iron is best and why?
Iron bisglycinate is a highly stable amino acid chelate. Its composition (i.e. two glycine molecules bound to ferrous iron ion [Fe2+])24 restricts its interaction with inhibitors of iron absorption.25 Subsequently, iron bisglycinate has at least two-fold higher bioavailability in the intestinal mucosal cells compared with iron salts such as iron sulfate. It is considered to be a safer source of iron, often administered at a relatively lower dose of elemental iron.26
Iron bisglycinate has been shown to lead to better outcomes (see Figure 1) and fewer adverse effects than other iron supplements in pregnant women.24,27,28
Figure 1. Average Rise in Serum a) Haemoglobin and b) Ferritin Levels From Baseline After One Month of Iron Supplementation28
What adverse effects are associated with iron supplementation? How does iron bisglycinate fare?
Because of its chemical composition, iron bisglycinate causes less gastrointestinal irritation (i.e. nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and constipation) compared to conventional iron salts (e.g. iron sulphate and iron fumarate).24 Results presented in Figure 2 reflect this difference, based on a six-week trial in patients with iron deficiency anaemia.29 Iron bisglycinate has superior bioavailability and tolerability compared to other iron salts.24,26 These advantages increase the likelihood of patient compliance26 and, by extension, better treatment outcomes.
Figure 2. Incidence of Adverse Effects After Iron Bisglycinate and Iron Sulfate Treatment29
