Vitamin C has no role in improving Hb in patients with iron-deficiency anemia: JAMA

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2020-11-03 09:15 GMT | Update On 2020-11-03 09:52 GMT

China: Addition of vitamin C supplements to iron supplementation does nothing to improve hemoglobin recovery and iron absorption in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), suggests a recent study in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Vitamin C has been routinely used with oral iron supplements for IDA patients but it remains uncertain whether vitamin C is essential or not. Nianyi Li, Department of Hematology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, and colleagues compared the equivalence and assessed the safety of oral iron supplements plus vitamin C or oral iron supplements alone in patients with IDA.

The study enrolled about 440 adult patients with newly diagnosed IDA -- hemoglobin level less than 13 g/dL for men, less than 12 g/dL for women. They were randomly assigned to receive 100-mg oral iron supplements with or without 200-mg vitamin C supplements every 8 hours.

Key findings of the study include:

From baseline to the 2-week follow-up, the mean (SD) change in hemoglobin level was 2.00 g/dL in the oral iron supplements plus vitamin C group and 1.84 g/dL in the oral iron supplements–only group thus meeting the criteria for equivalence.
The mean (SD) change in serum ferritin level from baseline to 8-week follow-up was 35.75 ng/mL in the vitamin C plus iron group and 34.48 ng/mL in the iron-only group.
There were no significant differences between the 2 groups regarding the rates of adverse events (20.9% vs 20.5%).
No patient withdrew because of adverse events.

"Among patients with IDA, oral iron supplements alone were equivalent to oral iron supplements plus vitamin C in improving hemoglobin recovery and iron absorption," wrote the authors.

"These findings suggest that on-demand vitamin C supplements are not essential to take along with oral iron supplements for patients with IDA," they concluded.

"The Efficacy and Safety of Vitamin C for Iron Supplementation in Adult Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial," is published in the journal JAMA Network Open.

DOI: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2772395

Article Source : JAMA Network Open

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.

NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.

Medha Baranwal

Comments Policy

Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .

Vitamin C has no role in improving Hb in patients with iron-deficiency anemia: JAMA

Similar News

Uterine Fibroids Linked to 50 Percent Higher Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Women: Study

Diabetes Increases Risk of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases: Study

Valgus Knee Brace Eases Walking Pain in Osteoarthritis Patients: Trial Shows

Betel Quid Use Linked to Higher Risk of COPD Deaths, Study Finds

New Malaria Vaccine Candidate Blocks Parasite Transmission, Study Shows

Tirzepatide- A novel therapeutic against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, reports research

Insulin degludec 3-times weekly Less Effective Than insulin glargine once-daily in Short-Term Glycemic Control: Study

Scientists find yoga less effective than traditional exercise in improving vascular and heart function: Study