Efficacy of a microencapsulated iron pyrophosphate-fortified fruit juice: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in Spanish iron-deficient women

Abstract

Iron deficiency anaemia is a worldwide health problem. We studied the influence of consuming an iron fortified fruit juice on iron status in menstruating women. A randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study of 16-weeks of duration was performed. Two groups: P group (n=58) or F group (n=64) consumed, as a supplement to their usual diet, 500 mL/day of placebo fruit juice or iron-fortified fruit juice, respectively. The iron fortified-juice, containing microencapsulated iron pyrophosphate, provided 18 mg of iron (100% of the recommended dietary allowance per day). At baseline and monthly, dietary intake, body weight, and iron parameters were determined: total red blood cells, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), haemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin, serum transferrin, transferrin saturation, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR-2), and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP). The fruit juices consumption involved increased intake of carbohydrates and vitamin C, and increased body mass index within normal limits. Ferritin was higher in F after week 4 (p<0•05) and became 80% higher than in P after week 16 (p<0•001), and transferrin decreased in F group compared to P group after week 4 (p<0•001). RDW was higher at weeks 4 and 8 in F compared to P (p<0•05). Transferrin saturation increased after week 8, and haematocrit, MCV, and haemoglobin increased after week 12, in F compared to P. Serum iron did not change. sTfR and ZnPP decreased in F at week 16 (p<0•05). Iron pyrophosphate fortified fruit juice improves iron status and may be used to prevent iron deficiency anaemia. This trial was register at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01135576.