Effect of iron therapy on fatigue symptoms in non-anaemic iron deficient women of reproductive age- A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of iron therapy on fatigue symptoms in non-anaemic iron-deficient women of reproductive age.

METHODS

The double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial was conducted at the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Central Park Teaching Hospital, Lahore from March 2023 to February 2024 and comprised women aged 18-45 years who were non-anaemic, had haemoglobin level >11g/dl a fatigue score of at least 36, and a low serum ferritin level. Socio-demographic data was recorded. The subjects were randomised into Group 1 receiving iron therapy and group 2 receiving placebo. After 2 months of intervention, the fatigue scores, haemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were assessed again, and compared with baseline values. Data was analysed using SPSS 26.

RESULTS

Of the 164 subjects, 86(52.4%) were in Group 1 with mean age 30.70±18.123 years, and 78(47.6%) were in Group 2 with mean age 29.46±7.99 years (p=0.325). In Group 1, significant decrease in fatigue score and significant increase in ferritin and haemoglobin levels were noted post-intervention (p=0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Iron supplementation alleviated fatigue and enhanced serum ferritin concentration in non-anaemic, iron-deficient women of childbearing age.