We aimed to understand how lactoferrin, a protein known for its potential health benefits, affects anemia in patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our study included 46 adults with stage 5 CKD who were experiencing anemia despite being on stable doses of erythropoietin, a common treatment for this condition.
Participants received 100 mg of oral lactoferrin twice a day for one month, and some also received iron supplements. We measured how their hemoglobin levels changed over this period and looked at inflammatory markers, which can indicate how the body reacts to illness.
From our findings, we observed significant improvements in hemoglobin levels by the end of the study. Initially, participants had a mean hemoglobin level of 8.18 g/dl, and by four weeks, it had risen to 8.96 g/dl. Interestingly, we noted that women experienced a greater increase in hemoglobin than men, and those who received iron supplements alongside lactoferrin showed an even better response.
However, when looking at inflammatory markers, the results were less clear. There appeared to be a decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which was not significant, along with a slight, not meaningful increase in C-reactive protein levels. This suggests that while lactoferrin might improve hemoglobin levels for patients with advanced CKD and anemia, its impact on inflammation remains uncertain.