Lactoferrin for Prevention and Treatment of Anemia and Inflammation in Pregnant Women: A Comprehensive Review.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic search or meta-analytic methodology
PubMed 34440102 · doi:10.3390/biomedicines9080898
What was done
The authors conducted a narrative review examining literature on the biological mechanisms, safety, and therapeutic application of oral lactoferrin (primarily bovine lactoferrin) supplementation for the prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia and inflammatory complications in pregnant women.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect estimates, or study counts. Qualitatively, it reports that oral lactoferrin normalizes iron homeostasis, improves iron absorption, and inhibits inflammatory pathways linked to anemia of chronic disease. It also describes multi-system actions during pregnancy, including protection against infections, antioxidant activity, regulation of microbiota, and gut barrier protection with fewer gastrointestinal adverse effects than standard iron formulations.
Why it matters
Standard oral iron supplementation during pregnancy frequently causes gastrointestinal side effects that impair adherence; lactoferrin may provide an alternative or adjunct that combines iron delivery with anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Limits
As a narrative review abstract, no quantitative data, effect sizes, sample sizes, or study selection criteria are reported. It does not provide head-to-head clinical trial metrics or specify optimal dosages.
Cited by
- supports Lactoferrin binds iron in the gastrointestinal tract and facilitates its absorption into the body.