Ferrous sulfate and bovine lactoferrin for iron levels in pregnant women
What it found
In 100 pregnant women with low iron, ferrous sulfate raised blood iron measures just as well as a milk protein supplement.
Women taking ferrous sulfate reported more stomach pain and constipation.
What they found
Studies in people
Iron levels improved equally
After 30 days, both groups saw their blood iron measures go up. Their iron storage levels also rose by about the same amount in each group.
More stomach pain with ferrous sulfate
Women taking ferrous sulfate reported higher scores for stomach pain than those taking the milk protein. They also had worse constipation.
What the authors conclude
- They say the milk protein works just as well as ferrous sulfate for restoring iron stores in pregnant women.
- They note that ferrous sulfate causes significantly more stomach side effects.
How it was done
The authors wanted to see how ferrous sulfate compared to a milk protein called bovine lactoferrin for treating low iron during pregnancy. They also wanted to check which one caused fewer stomach problems.
They gave 100 pregnant women with low iron either a milk protein capsule twice a day or 520 mg of ferrous sulfate once a day. The trial lasted 30 days. The women recorded any stomach problems they had each day.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial only lasted 30 days, so it cannot show what happens over a full pregnancy.
- It only looked at pregnant women who already had low iron, not people in general.
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 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error