Overview
Low-dose liposomal iron (17-34 mg elemental/day) was compared with standard conventional oral iron (100-200mg elemental/day) in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia following sleeve gastrectomy. Liposomal iron provided superior hematological improvement and gastrointestinal tolerance.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- History of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy performed at least 6 months prior to enrollment
- Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia, defined as:
- Hemoglobin \<12 g/dL in women or \<13 g/dL in men, and
- Serum ferritin \<30 ng/mL or transferrin saturation (TSAT) \<20%
- Mild to moderate anemia (hemoglobin ≥9 g/dL)
- Ability to take and swallow oral medications
- Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria
- Active gastrointestinal disease (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, or gastrointestinal bleeding)
- Chronic kidney disease with estimated GFR \<30 mL/min/1.73 m²
- Use of oral or parenteral iron, vitamin B12, or folate supplementation within the previous 3 months
- Iron overload or hemochromatosis (serum ferritin \>300 ng/mL)
- Known allergy or intolerance to iron preparations
- Active malignancy
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Known hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia, sickle cell disease)
- Blood transfusion within the previous 1 month
- Cognitive or psychiatric disorder interfering with study participation or protocol adherence