The effect of discontinuing iron supplementation on the iron status of wome

Twenty-four women were studied in order to examine the effect that discontinued iron supplementation has on the hematological values of serum ferritin, serum iron and hemoglobin.;Each of the subjects received the treatment of oral iron supplements (320 mg ferrous sulfate = 100 mg elemental iron taken as SLOW-Fe twice a day) for 12 weeks. Supplementation was then discontinued for an additional 12 weeks.;Statistical analysis using analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated significant changes (p $<$.05) in serum ferritin and serum iron values. No significant (p $<$.05) change was found in hemoglobin values over the course of the study. Serum ferritin values were significantly (p $<$.05) increased following 6 (11.5 $pm$ 5.3 to 26.4 $pm$ 14.3 $mu$g/L) and 12 (11.5 $pm$ 5.3 to 30.6 $pm$ 14.9 $mu$gL) weeks of oral iron supplementation. Twelve weeks of discontinued supplementation did not significantly (p $<$.05) alter serum ferritin values as noted by mean values of 29.0 $pm$ 15.0 $mu$g/L and 28.2 $pm$ 17.1 $mu$g/L for weeks 18 and 24, respectively. Serum iron values were significantly (p $<$.05) increased (15.9 $pm$ 6.7 to 25.4 $pm$ 15.6 $mu$mol/L) after 6 weeks of oral iron supplementation. Serum iron values at 12, 18 and 24 weeks of the study were not significantly (p $<$.05) different from the values at week 0 and week 6. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).