Lactoferrin for Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Anemia is a great public health problem affecting both developing and developed countries. It is considered the most prevalent form of malnutrition in children and adolescents.

Supplementation with standard iron therapy is the main treatment of iron deficiency anemia.

There are two types of iron that are available: ferric and ferrous iron but ferrous iron better in absorption so it is more common in use.

Three types of ferrous iron are present: ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate but all forms have annoying gastrointestinal side effects including diarrhea, anorexia, heartburn, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, upset stomach, and constipation making continuation on it for many weeks unpleasant for all even adults.

Studies have been performed to explore the effect of oral bovine lactoferrin on iron absorption on pregnant women. Many studies showed that oral bovine lactoferrin for pregnant women increased levels of hemoglobin, total serum iron, and ferritin and decreased the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia. although ferrous sulfate and lactoferrin both of them significantly improve the body's iron stores to the same extent, gastrointestinal side effects of lactoferrin were extremely lower than that of ferrous sulfate so oral bovine lactoferrin can replace iron forms in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy.

Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein from the transferrin family consist of 691 amino acids. It is a component of exocrine secretions such as milk and saliva and is present in neutrophil granules. Lactoferrin was identified in 1939 in bovine milk and isolated in 1960 from both human and bovine milk. Human colostrum shows the highest levels of lactoferrin while mature milk and other secretions present lower.

Lactoferrin was used in children as antimicrobial in cases of acute diarrhea.In vitro data document the growth inhibition of the diarrheal associated organisms: rotavirus, cholera, salmonella, and shigella by human lactoferrin.

Studies about Milk formula fortified with bovine lactoferrin confirmed its positive effect on Hb and iron status of infants. Recombinant human lactoferrin was extracted from rice seed, is used by Ventria Bioscience as a dietary supplement for treatment of iron of deficiency anemia.

Rationale:

Iron deficiency anemia has a high prevalence rate in scholar age children with their big need to iron for anabolic processes of growth. Supplementation with standard iron therapy is the main treatment however its unpleasant side effects negatively affect patient compliance.

Hypothesis:

Lactoferrin may have a positive effect in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in school-age children. Lactoferrin side effects less than standard iron therapy.

Research question:

Is lactoferrin usage in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in scholar age children has a positive effect and little side effects in comparison with standard iron therapy (ferrous sulfate)?.

• Objectives

This study aims to:

• Evaluation of the effect of oral lactoferrin in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in school-age children in comparison with standard iron therapy (ferrous sulfate).
• Assessment of side effects occurs with the usage of lactoferrin.

Inclusion criteria

• Children with iron deficiency anemia.

Exclusion criteria

• Malabsorption diseases as coeliac disease.
• Diseases causing chronic blood loss as Meckel diverticulum.
• Documented history of allergy to lactoferrin or ferrous sulfate.