Ferrous sulfate compared with lactoferrin in pregnant women with anemia
What it found
In 100 pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia, ferrous sulfate and bovine lactoferrin raised iron levels about the same.
Women taking ferrous sulfate reported more abdominal pain and constipation.
What they found
Studies in people
Iron levels improved
In both groups, hemoglobin, serum ferritin and serum iron increased significantly, and total iron-binding capacity fell significantly, compared with starting values.
No difference between groups
There were no significant differences between the lactoferrin group and the ferrous sulfate group for any of the blood measures.
Stomach side effects
The median scores for abdominal pain and constipation were significantly higher in women taking ferrous sulfate than in those taking bovine lactoferrin.
What the authors conclude
“The results show that bovine lactoferrin has the same efficacy as ferrous sulfate in restoring iron deposits with significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that bovine lactoferrin has the same efficacy as ferrous sulfate in restoring iron deposits.
- They report that bovine lactoferrin had significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
How it was done
The authors wanted to compare how bovine lactoferrin and ferrous sulfate affect iron nutritional status and to evaluate how well each was tolerated.
They studied 100 healthy pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia. Women took either 100 mg bovine lactoferrin twice a day or 520 mg ferrous sulfate once a day for 30 days. Blood values and five gastrointestinal side effects were checked.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial lasted 30 days, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- It cannot show whether the same results would occur in pregnant women who do not have iron deficiency anemia.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Naples Federico II, Italy
The paper
- Title
- Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: a prospective controlled randomized study
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Nappi C, Tommaselli GA, Morra I, Massaro M, Formisano C, Di Carlo C (2009). Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: a prospective controlled randomized study. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. doi:10.1080/00016340903117994PubMed 19639462DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error