A Novel Approach for Iron Deficiency Anaemia with Liposomal Iron: Concept to Clinic

Abstract

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common nutritional deficiency disorder, contributing to 50 percent of all the anaemias in the world. Dietary changes alone are insufficient for the correction and management of iron deficiency anaemia. Hence, iron supplementation is necessary. Conventional oral iron therapy is limited in many patients because of dose dependent side effects, insufficient absorption, lack of compliance and limitation in various inflammatory conditions. Liposomal iron is a technologically designed, innovative form of iron which due to its differential delivery system ensures higher absorption and bioavailability, greater tolerability and least gastro-intestinal side effects unlike conventional oral iron preparations. This review provides a critical discussion and a comprehensive view based on the author’s review of the medical literature concerning the technology of liposomal iron preparation, mechanism of its absorption, its advantage over conventional iron preparations and clinical evidence on its usage in iron deficient states in pregnancy and certain inflammatory conditions.