The Effect of 12-weeks of Daily Iron Supplementation on Non-transferrin Bound Iron Concentrations in Women with a High Prevalence of Hemoglobinopathies (P10-113-19)

Abstract

ObjectivesOur aim was to assess serum NTBI concentrations in non-pregnant Cambodian women who received daily iron supplements (60 mg elemental iron as ferrous sulfate) in accordance with the 2016 global World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. MethodsSerum NTBI concentration was measured with the use of the FeROS™ eLPI assay (Afferix Ltd., Israel) in fasting venous blood samples collected during a 2015 supplementation trial among predominantly anemic Cambodian women (18–45 years). Samples were randomly selected from sub-groups of women who received 60 mg daily elemental iron as ferrous sulfate (n = 50) or a placebo (n = 50) for 12-weeks. ResultsOverall, n = 17/100 (17%) of women had an elevated serum NTBI concentration (≥0.1 μmol/L) at 12-weeks; n = 9 in the Fe group and n = 8 in the placebo group. Of the n = 100 women, a total of 82% of the women were iron-replete (n = 82/100, inflammation-adjusted ferritin >15 μg/L) and 67% (n = 67/100) had some form of a hemoglobinopathy (namely, Hb E variants or α-thalassemia). Elevated serum NTBI concentration was not associated with age, iron supplementation, transferrin saturation or severe hemoglobinopathies (P >0.05). ConclusionsIn this population of Cambodian women with a high prevalence of hemoglobinopathies, we found that daily iron supplementation was not associated with elevated serum NTBI concentrations at 12-weeks, as compared to placebo. Funding SourcesInternational Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) North America.