In
cancer patients mild-moderate non-
chemotherapy-induced
iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is usually treated with oral
iron salts, mostly
ferrous sulfate. In this study, we compare efficacy and toxicity of oral
ferrous bisglycinate chelate and
ferrous sulfate in
cancer patients with mild IDA. Twenty-four patients operated on for solid
tumors (10 breast, 12 colorectal, 2 gastric), aged 61±10 years (range 45-75), with non-
chemotherapy-induced
hemoglobin (Hb) values between 10 and 12 g/dL and
ferritin lower than 30 ng/mL were randomized to receive oral
ferrous bisglycinate chelate, 28 mg per day for 20 days, and then 14 mg per day for 40 days (12 patients) (A group) or oral
ferrous sulphate, 105 mg per day for 60 days (12 patients) (B group). Values of
hemoglobin and
ferritin obtained at diagnosis, 1 and 2 months from the beginning of treatment were compared. Adverse events (AEs) related to the two treatments were recorded. In the 12 patients treated with
ferrous bisglycinate chelate, basal
hemoglobin and
ferritin values (mean±SD) were 11.6±0.8 g/dL and 16.1±8.0 ng/mL. After 2 months of treatment, they were 13.0±1.4 g/dL and 33.8±22.0 ng/mL, respectively (P=0.0003 and P=0.020). In the group treated with
ferrous sulphate,
hemoglobin and
ferritin mean values were 11.3±0.6 g/dL and 19.0±6.4 ng/mL basally, and 12.7±0.70 g/dL and 40.8±28.1 ng/mL (P<0.0001 and P=0.017) after 2 months of treatment. AEs occurred in six cases. In all these six cases, two (17%) treated with
ferrous bisglycinate chelate and four (33%) with
ferrous sulphate, toxicity was grade 1. In conclusion, these data suggest that
ferrous bisglycinate chelate has similar efficacy and likely lower GI toxicity than
ferrous sulphate given at the conventional dose of 105 mg per day for the same time.