Comparison of efficiency and side effects of daily and alternate-day oral iron

Abstract Aim In recent years, alternate-day dosing has been recommended in iron deficiency treatment. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and side effects of oral iron treatments given daily and alternate-day dosing in iron deficiency anemia patients. Methods This retrospective study included patients aged 18–51 diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia, defined by a serum ferritin level of ≤ 25 µg/L. Patients were divided into three groups based on oral iron dosing regimens: 1 × 1 (100-mg elemental iron daily), 1 × 1 (100-mg elemental iron every other day), and 2 × 1 (200-mg elemental iron every other day). Blood parameters (hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and ferritin) were measured at baseline, day 14, and day 28. Side effects, including metallic taste, nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting, were recorded during follow-up visits. Results The patients included in our study were between the ages of 18–51. A statistically significant increase was found between 0–14 days ( p < 0.001), 14–28 days ( p < 0.001), and 0–28 days ( p < 0.001) hemoglobin values in all patients. When the rate of change of hemoglobin and ferritin values between the groups was compared, no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Conclusion The increase in ferritin values was higher in the group that used 1 × 1 oral iron every day on days 0 and 14. No difference was observed between the groups in terms of ferritin and hemoglobin values on days 0 and 28. In conclusion, there is no difference in efficacy and side effects between the patient groups, so 1 × 1 use alternate day is the most appropriate treatment method for oral iron therapy in terms of patient tolerance, adherence to treatment.