Eric Ahn1, Bhushan Kapur, Gideon Koren. 1. Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology,The Hospital for Sick Children,Toronto ON.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare iron absorption of a prenatal multivitamin supplement containing both iron and calcium (HICA) to that of another multivitamin containing a lower iron dose and no calcium (LI). METHODS: In a crossover study, serum iron was measured in 12 healthy women administered HICA and LI separately on 2 different occasions. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 hours after administration of each supplement. RESULTS: The values of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were not significantly different between LI (79.1 +/- 36.0 micro M*h) and HICA (91.4 +/- 50.4 micro M*h) (P =.37). After standardizing the AUC for dose, the relative absorption over the 8-hour time period was significantly higher for LI (2.3 +/-.0 micro M*h/mg) than for HICA (1.5 +/- 0.8 micro M*h/mg) (P =.021). CONCLUSION: The absorption of iron from a low-iron-containing supplement was similar to that from a supplement with almost twice the amount of iron, due possibly to the exclusion of calcium in the LI product. Thus, while offering similar amounts of iron, the LI supplement may be better tolerated by women who are sensitive to iron-induced adverse effects.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To compare iron absorption of a prenatal multivitamin supplement containing both iron and calcium (HICA) to that of another multivitamin containing a lower iron dose and no calcium (LI). METHODS: In a crossover study, serum iron was measured in 12 healthy women administered HICA and LI separately on 2 different occasions. Blood samples were taken at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 hours after administration of each supplement. RESULTS: The values of the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) were not significantly different between LI (79.1 +/- 36.0 micro M*h) and HICA (91.4 +/- 50.4 micro M*h) (P =.37). After standardizing the AUC for dose, the relative absorption over the 8-hour time period was significantly higher for LI (2.3 +/-.0 micro M*h/mg) than for HICA (1.5 +/- 0.8 micro M*h/mg) (P =.021). CONCLUSION: The absorption of iron from a low-iron-containing supplement was similar to that from a supplement with almost twice the amount of iron, due possibly to the exclusion of calcium in the LI product. Thus, while offering similar amounts of iron, the LI supplement may be better tolerated by women who are sensitive to iron-induced adverse effects.
Authors: Eric Ahn; Nicholas Pairaudeau; Nicholas Pairaudeau; Yves Cérat; Bernard Couturier; Andre Fortier; Eric Paradis; Gideon Koren Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2006-04-04 Impact factor: 3.007