Lactoferrin Versus Ferrous Sulfate in Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Female Medical Ain Shams Students

Iron, an essential element for cell growth and proliferation, is a component of fundamental processes such as DNA replication and energy production. However, iron can also be toxic when present in excess for its capacity to donate electrons to oxygen, thus causing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals

Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is roughly 38% of pregnant women, 29% of non-pregnant women and 29% of all women of reproductive age have anemia globally

Human lactoferrin (hLf), an 80-kDa multifunctional iron-binding cationic glycoprotein, is constitutively secreted by exocrine glands and by neutrophils during inflammation. hLf is recognized as a key element in the host immune defense system

Bovine Lf (bLf), which shares high sequence homology with the human protein, is also a multifunctional glycoprotein with identical antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities of hLf Lactoferrin is synthesized by exocrine glands and neutrophils under conditions of inflammation and at site of infection through its iron binding and formation of reactive oxygen species physiological transport of iron from tissue to circulation, thus curing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia

A study done for pregnant women showed an increase of total serum iron in all bovin lactoferrin treated women.