Iron supplementation does not worsen respiratory health or alter the sputum microbiome in cystic fibrosis.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2014

Institution/Department

Critical Care

Journal Title

Journal of cystic fibrosis : official journal of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society

MeSH Headings

Adolescent, Adult, Anemia, Iron-Deficiency, Cross-Over Studies, Cystic Fibrosis, Double-Blind Method, Female, Ferrous Compounds, Hepcidins, Humans, Male, Microbiota, Middle Aged, Placebos, Sputum, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Iron supplementation for hypoferremic anemia could potentiate bacterial growth in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung, but clinical trials testing this hypothesis are lacking.

METHODS: Twenty-two adults with CF and hypoferremic anemia participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of ferrous sulfate 325mg daily for 6weeks. Iron-related hematologic parameters, anthropometric data, sputum iron, Akron Pulmonary Exacerbation Score (PES), and the sputum microbiome were serially assessed. Fixed-effect models were used to describe how ferrous sulfate affected these variables.

RESULTS: Ferrous sulfate increased serum iron by 22.3% and transferrin saturation (TSAT) by 26.8% from baseline (p

CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose ferrous sulfate improved hypoferremia without correcting anemia after 6weeks. We did not observe significant effects on sputum iron, Akron PES, and the sputum microbiome. Although we did not identify untoward health effects of iron supplementation, a larger blinded randomized controlled trial would be needed to fully demonstrate safety.

ISSN

1873-5010

First Page

311

Last Page

318

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