Effect of iron supplementation on fatigue in nonanemic menstruating women with low ferritin: a randomized controlled trial

Vaucher P, Druais PL, Waldvogel S, Favrat B

Published in Canadian Medical Association Journal

Methodology

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 80 mg/day oral iron for 12 weeks in non-anaemic menstruating women with unexplained fatigue and ferritin below 50 ug/L.

Key Findings

Iron reduced fatigue by about 48% from baseline versus 29% with placebo, a statistically significant difference, while haemoglobin was unchanged.

Conclusions

Oral iron improves unexplained fatigue in non-anaemic women with low ferritin.

Limitations

Subjective primary outcome; single-country primary-care sample; 12-week duration.

Supplements Studied

Iron

Mineral

Iron reduced fatigue by about 48% from baseline versus 29% with placebo in non-anaemic women with low ferritin.

Outcomes Measured

Increased Energy Production

Iron significantly reduced fatigue compared with placebo in women with low ferritin.

Reduced Physical Fatigue

Iron supplementation reduced fatigue in nonanemic menstruating women with low ferritin.

Exercise Motivation

The mean score on the Current and Past Psychological Scale for fatigue decreased by 47.7% in the iron group and by 28.8% in the placebo group (difference -18.9%, 95% CI -34.5 to -3.2; p=0.02)