Table 2.
Changes in iron status during the experimental period
| Parameter | Week | PCGa,b (n = 14–15) |
FEa (n = 15) |
FEMTa (n = 15) |
Estimate, 95% CI, P(Week × Treatment)c | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FE vs. FEMT | FE vs. PCG | |||||
| Serum iron | 0 | 114.5 (64.1) | 125.9 (57.4) | 115.1 (57.3) | ||
| 2 | 87.3 (28.8) | 98.7 (49.7) | 86.1 (30.6) | −1.87, [−39.49, 35.76], 0.922 | 0.18, [−37.86, 38.23], 0.992 | |
| 4 | 83.5 (33.8) | 117.3 (46.7) | 106.4 (42.9) | −0.13, [−37.76, 37.49], 0.994 | −22.20, [−60.24, 15.84], 0.251 | |
| 6 | 83.4 (33.4) | 93.5 (42.8) | 100.8 (36.2) | 18.0, [−19.63, 55.63], 0.346 | 1.20, [−36.43, 38.83], 0.950 | |
| Hemoglobin | 0 | 13.2 (0.9) | 13.3 (0.9) | 12.9 (0.8) | ||
| 2 | 12.8 (0.9) | 13.3 (0.8) | 13 (0.8) | 0.01, [−0.42, 0.44], 0.976 | −0.41, [−0.85, 0.03], 0.065 | |
| 4 | 12.8 (1.0) | 12.9 (1.2) | 13.1 (0.7) | 0.50, [0.07, 0.93], 0.023* | −0.14, [−0.58, 0.29], 0.523 | |
| 6 | 12.7 (1.0) | 13.1 (0.9) | 13.2 (0.6) | 0.36, [−0.07, 0.79], 0.101 | −0.31, [−0.74, 0.12], 0.162 | |
| UIBC d | 0 | 260.0 (95.8) | 224.9 (84.3) | 232.7 (66.9) | ||
| 2 | 285.0 (69.6) | 244.9 (78.0) | 264.5 (50.7) | 11.87, [−28.66, 52.39], 0.564 | 1.52, [−39.52, 42.55], 0.942 | |
| 4 | 282.6 (66.5) | 219.7 (76.4) | 243.4 (71.0) | 15.87, [−24.66, 56.39], 0.441 | 24.22, [−16.81, 65.25], 0.246 | |
| 6 | 288.3 (62.6) | 243.8 (82.4) | 247.6 (41.0) | −4.00, [−44.53, 36.53], 0.846 | 9.47, [31.06, 49.99], 0.645 | |
| TIBC d | 0 | 374.5 (50.5) | 350.8 (47.9) | 347.9 (41.9) | ||
| 2 | 372.3 (55.0) | 343.5 (54.2) | 350.6 (41.5) | 10.00, [−5.87, 25.87], 0.215 | 1.36, [−14.71, 17.43], 0.868 | |
| 4 | 366.1 (49.3) | 337.0 (53.8) | 349.8 (45.6) | 15.73, [−0.13, 31.60], 0.052 | 1.68, [−14.40, 17.75], 0.837 | |
| 6 | 371.7 (47.4) | 337.3 (55.8) | 348.4 (38.9) | 14.00, [−1.87, 29.87], 0.083 | 10.67, [−5.20, 26.53], 0.186 | |
| Log ferritin | 0 | 4.1 (1.2) | 4.3 (1.1) | 4.1 (1.3) | ||
| 2 | 4.0 (1.1) | 4.6 (0.9) | 4.2 (1.0) | −0.27, [−0.69, 0.15], 0.212 | −0.32, [−0.75, 0.10], 0.138 | |
| 4 | 4.2 (1.2) | 4.4 (0.9) | 4.3 (1.1) | 0.11, [−0.31, 0.53], 0.616 | 0.09, [−0.34, 0.52], 0.683 | |
| 6 | 4.1 (1.1) | 4.8 (1.2) | 4.4 (1.1) | −0.25, [−0.68, 0.17], 0.235 | −0.50, [−0.93, −0.08], 0.019* | |
Bold values represent the significantly different (*P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01)
aAll values are expressed as the mean (SD). PCG placebo control group; FE intervention group receiving 6 mg iron alone once daily; FEMT intervention group receiving 200 mg methionine, 400 mg threonine, and 6 mg iron once daily
bThe sample size in the PCG at week 2 and 4 was n = 14 due to missed visits
cEstimates and P-values were obtained from the generalized linear mixed models constructed using blood parameters as outcome variables, and week (0, 2, 4, and 6) and treatments (FE, FEMT, and PCG) as explanatory variables. The test statistics are marked with *P < 0.05. CI confidence interval
dTIBC total iron-binding capacity; UIBC unsaturated iron-binding capacity