Lactoferrin and Increased Hemoglobin Levels

Research synthesisLow evidenceSmall effect3 studies · 2 beneficial · 1 neutral · 0 harmful

Across 3 studies (2 with completed results), 2 reported beneficial small-sized effects on hemoglobin levels in children with iron deficiency anemia. One study was a protocol with no results (neutral). Effects were observed at 4–16 weeks. Doses were not consistently reported across studies.

Studied populations: children with iron deficiency anemia (including those with cerebral palsy)

Caveats: Evidence base is small (only 3 studies) — conclusions should be considered preliminary. One study is a protocol for an ongoing trial and does not provide results. The beneficial findings are from children with iron deficiency anemia; effects in other populations are unknown. Doses were not reported in the included studies, limiting dose-response assessment.

Generated Jul 13, 2026

Time to effect

Median: 10 weeks · IQR 7 weeks–3 months · Range 4 weeks–3.7 months — Reported in 2 of 3 studies

Safety in these studies

constipationIncreased risk
constipation was less likely to occur in the Lf group than the IPC group (p = 0.049)
from: Lactoferrin versus iron hydroxide polymaltose complex for the treatment of iron deficiency
abdominal painReported
Adverse events such as constipation, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain were found; particularly, a significant decrease in constipation is seen in Lf-treated groups.
from: Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review.
anorexiaReported
Adverse events such as constipation, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain were found; particularly, a significant decrease in constipation is seen in Lf-treated groups.
from: Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review.
constipationReported
Adverse events such as constipation, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain were found; particularly, a significant decrease in constipation is seen in Lf-treated groups.
from: Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review.
constipationReportedp = 0.049
constipation was less likely to occur in the Lf group than the IPC group (p = 0.049)
from: Lactoferrin versus iron hydroxide polymaltose complex for the treatment of iron deficiency
vomitingReported
Adverse events such as constipation, vomiting, anorexia, and abdominal pain were found; particularly, a significant decrease in constipation is seen in Lf-treated groups.
from: Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review.

3 of 3 papers

Lactoferrin and lysozyme to promote nutritional, clinical and enteric recovery: a protocol for a factorial, blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial among children with diarrhoea and malnutrition (the Boresha Afya trial).
- 2024-08
- RCT
- BMJ open 14(8)
- - Ruchi Tiwari
  - Kirkby D Tickell
  - Emily Yoshioka
  - Joyce Otieno
  - Adeel Shah
  - Barbra A Richardson
  - Lucia Keter
  - Maureen Okello
  - Churchil Nyabinda
  - Indi Trehan
  - Christine J McGrath
  - Arianna Rubin Means
  - Eric R Houpt
  - Jie Liu
  - James A Platts-Mills
  - James M Njunge
  - Doreen Rwigi
  - Mareme M Diakhate
  - Julius Nyaoke
  - Eric Ochola
  - Grace John-Stewart
  - Judd L Walson
  - Patricia B Pavlinac
  - Benson O Singa
- PubMed: 39122384
- DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079448
5 Insights on
- Increased Hemoglobin Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
The trial will also test whether these interventions reduce enteric pathogen carriage, decrease enteric permeability and/or increase haemoglobin concentration in enrolled children.
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Significant
No
Dose
not specified
Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review.
- 2023-08-25
- Systematic Review
- The Turkish journal of pediatrics 65(4)
- - Devina June
  - Alvin Timothy Konstantin
  - Levina Arthauli Lumbanradja
  - Astria Aryani
  - Antoninus Hengky
- PubMed: 37661669
- DOI: 10.24953/turkjped.2022.670
2 Insights on
- Increased Hemoglobin Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
Serum ferritin (SF) and hemoglobin (Hb) were found to be increased in groups treated with Lf or a combination of Lf and elemental iron compared to iron only or placebo supplementation.
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes
Lactoferrin versus iron hydroxide polymaltose complex for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.
- 2021-05-28
- RCT · n = 70
- European journal of pediatrics 180(8)
- - Omneya M Omar
  - Hala Assem
  - Doaa Ahmed
  - Marwa S Abd Elmaksoud
- PubMed: 34101010
- DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04125-9
6 Insights on
- Increased Hemoglobin Levels
- High evidence
- Clinical
Upon comparing the two treatment groups, adjusted mean Hb and SF changes in the Lf group were significantly higher than that of the IPC group (p =0.001and p= 0.033, respectively)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Significant
Yes

Lactoferrin and Increased Hemoglobin Levels

Lactoferrin and lysozyme to promote nutritional, clinical and enteric recovery: a protocol for a factorial, blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial among children with diarrhoea and malnutrition (the Boresha Afya trial).

Lactoferrin as treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in children: a systematic review.

Lactoferrin versus iron hydroxide polymaltose complex for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.