Iron infusion: risks from free iron and natural alternatives
Iron infusions help with severe deficiency, but harbour risks such as oxidative stress due to free iron. Find out at what levels they are useful - and how lactoferrin provides gentle support.
Things worth knowing about "Iron infusion"
Iron infusions help with severe deficiency, but harbour risks such as oxidative stress due to free iron. Find out at what levels they are useful - and how lactoferrin provides gentle support.
Iron infusion: Effective treatment for iron deficiency - risks from free iron and natural alternatives
An iron infusion is an established medical therapy for the treatment of severe iron deficiency./strong> or iron deficiency anaemia if oral iron supplementation is not effective enough, is not tolerated or rapid replenishment of iron stores is medically necessary. Iron is administered directly intravenously, allowing it to enter the bloodstream immediately - without a diversion via intestinal absorption. Typical applications include malabsorption disorders (e.g. coeliac disease, Crohn's disease), severe blood loss, chronic inflammatory diseases, pregnancy or therapy-resistant states of exhaustion.
An iron infusion should only be carried out if the laboratory results are favourable. It is generally considered medically justified from the following values:
- Ferritin < 30 ng/ml with a normal inflammation value (CRP < 5 mg/l)
- Ferritin < 50 ng/ml with elevated CRP (> 5 mg/l), as this indicates a functional iron utilisation disorder in the context of inflammation
- Transferrin saturation < 20 %, which indicates limited iron availability
Despite their effectiveness, iron infusions are not without side effects. Common complaints are headaches, nausea, joint pain, reddening of the skin, itching or dizziness. In rarer cases, allergic reactions or anaphylactic shock may occur. The occurrence of free iron (not bound to transferrin) in the blood is particularly critical: This so-called NTBI (Non-Transferrin-Bound Iron) promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can lead to oxidative stress, tissue damage and chronic inflammatory processes. Too rapid or unnecessary infusion can therefore cause more harm than good.
An increasingly recognised and significantly better tolerated alternative is the intake of iron-saturated lactoferrin (hololactoferrin, iron saturation >90%). Lactoferrin is a natural, iron-binding glycoprotein that regulates iron absorption in the small intestine physiologically without causing oxidative stress. At the same time, it has an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect. Studies show that lactoferrin can effectively raise ferritin and haemoglobin levels - especially in cases of functional iron deficiency, pregnancy or chronic inflammation. It is suitable for both prevention and gentle substitution in cases of moderate deficiency or as accompanying therapy after an infusion.Literature references:
- Tolkien, Z. et al (2015). Ferrous sulfate supplementation causes significant gastrointestinal side-effects in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 10(2), e0117383.
- Paesano, R. et al (2010). Oral lactoferrin supplementation during pregnancy improves hemoglobin and ferritin levels. Biometals, 23(3), 411-417.
- Auerbach, M. & Macdougall, I. C. (2014). Safety of intravenous iron formulations: Facts and folklore. Blood Transfusion, 12(3), 296-300.
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