From the Guidelines
Low transferrin levels should be addressed by treating the underlying cause, which may involve increasing protein intake, iron supplementation, or managing chronic inflammation, as evidenced by recent studies 1. To manage low transferrin levels, it is essential to identify and treat the underlying cause, which can include malnutrition, liver disease, kidney disease, or chronic inflammation.
- Increasing protein intake through diet or supplements can help improve transferrin levels, with a recommended daily intake of 0.8-1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
- Ensuring adequate iron intake is also crucial, as transferrin plays a key role in transporting iron throughout the body.
- Regular monitoring of transferrin levels through blood tests is necessary to track improvement and adjust treatment as needed.
- In cases of severe deficiency, intravenous albumin or iron supplementation may be prescribed, as seen in studies such as FAIR-HF 2009 1 and CONFIRM-HF 2015 1, which demonstrated the effectiveness of intravenous iron supplementation in improving hemoglobin levels and reducing fatigue in patients with heart failure.
- The treatment duration and approach may vary depending on the underlying cause and severity of the deficiency, but improvement typically occurs within weeks to months of appropriate intervention, as supported by the study by Bolger 2006 1.
- It is also important to note that low transferrin levels can be associated with an increased risk of anemia and other complications, such as those seen in patients with chronic kidney disease or heart failure, highlighting the need for prompt and effective management 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Following intravenous administration, Venofer is dissociated into iron and sucrose and the iron is transported as a complex with transferrin to target cells including erythroid precursor cells. The FDA drug label does not answer the question about low transferring.
From the Research
Low Transferring
- Low transferring can be related to iron deficiency anemia, which is a major cause of anemia and can be associated with fatigue, impaired physical function, and reduced quality of life 2.
- Iron sucrose is an established, effective, and well-tolerated treatment of iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in patients with acute or chronic conditions, and it can rapidly increase hemoglobin, ferritin, and transferrin saturation levels 3.
- Intravenous iron sucrose has been shown to be more effective than oral iron supplementation in replenishing iron stores and improving hemoglobin levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease 4.
- A comparative study between oral lactoferrin and ferrous sulfate supplementation found that lactoferrin had better effects on serum iron, ferritin, and hemoglobin concentration, but a reducing effect on fractional iron absorption and IL-6 levels 5.
- A randomized trial comparing intravenous iron sucrose to oral iron ferrous sulfate for antenatal and postpartum iron deficiency anemia found that both forms of iron replacement therapy led to increased hemoglobin and ferritin levels, but intravenous iron restored stores faster than oral iron 6.