Iron-deficiency anemia affects 10% of women of child-bearing age. Guidelines to treat iron deficiency recommend daily oral iron, but this may decrease fractional iron absorption and increase side effects which also impacts medication adherence. A double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, which included 150 women demonstrated that:
at equal total iron doses, compared to consecutive day dosing of iron, alternate day dosing did not result in higher serum ferritin but reduced iron deficiency at 6 months and triggered fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
Take home point: Dosing iron every other day had similar effect with less side effects. Consider prescribing it this way to your patients, especially if they have had issues with side effects in the past!
References
von Siebenthal HK, Gessler S, Vallelian F, Steinwendner J, Kuenzi UM, Moretti D, Zimmermann MB, Stoffel NU. Alternate day versus consecutive day oral iron supplementation in iron-depleted women: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Nov 3;65:102286. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102286. PMID: 38021373; PMCID: PMC10659995.
