COMPARISON OF EFFICACY OF ORAL VS IV IRON THERAPY IN CHILDREN AGED 12-59 MONTHS, WITH IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

June 17, 2026 updated by: Kharadar General Hospital

Comparison of Efficacy of Oral versus Intravenous Iron Therapy in Children Aged 12-59 Months with Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) remains one of the most common nutritional disorders among children worldwide and is a major public health concern in developing countries, including Pakistan. Children under five years of age are particularly vulnerable due to rapid growth and increased iron requirements. IDA can adversely affect cognitive development, motor performance, behavior, immunity, and overall growth.

Oral iron supplementation is currently the standard treatment for pediatric IDA because of its affordability and ease of administration. However, its effectiveness is often limited by gastrointestinal side effects, poor palatability, prolonged treatment duration, and poor adherence. Intravenous iron therapy offers an alternative approach that may provide faster correction of anemia and replenishment of iron stores while avoiding some of the limitations associated with oral therapy.

Although intravenous iron preparations have demonstrated promising results in several settings, comparative data among young children remain limited. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy and safety of oral iron therapy and intravenous iron sucrose therapy in children aged 12-59 months with moderate iron deficiency anemia. The findings of this study may help identify the most effective and practical treatment strategy for this high-risk population.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Iron deficiency anemia is a leading cause of morbidity among children under five years of age and continues to contribute substantially to poor child health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Early childhood is a critical period for growth and neurodevelopment, and iron deficiency during this stage may result in long-term adverse effects on cognitive function, psychomotor development, behavior, and immunity.

Oral iron supplementation remains the standard treatment for iron deficiency anemia; however, treatment success is frequently affected by poor adherence resulting from gastrointestinal side effects, unpleasant taste, prolonged treatment duration, and inconsistent caregiver administration. These limitations may delay hematologic recovery and restoration of iron stores.

Intravenous iron sucrose has emerged as a potential alternative for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. It allows direct replenishment of iron stores, may achieve a more rapid increase in hemoglobin levels, and eliminates issues related to gastrointestinal absorption and daily medication adherence. Despite these potential advantages, evidence comparing intravenous and oral iron therapy in young children is limited, particularly in resource-constrained settings.

This randomized controlled trial will evaluate and compare the effectiveness and safety of oral iron therapy and intravenous iron sucrose therapy in children aged 12-59 months diagnosed with moderate iron deficiency anemia. The study findings are expected to provide locally relevant evidence to support clinical decision-making and optimize treatment strategies for pediatric iron deficiency anemia.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
100

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Sindh
      • Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
        • Kharadar General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:•

. Age 12-59 months.

  • Diagnosed with moderate iron deficiency anemia
  • Hemoglobin level 7-9.9 g/dL
  • Parents or guardians willing to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:•

  • Mild anemia and Severe anemia (Hb <7 g/dL)/ requiring blood transfusion
  • Known hemoglobinopathies (e.g., thalassemia)
  • Acute severe infection or inflammatory disease
  • Previous iron therapy within the last 4 weeks/ Blood transfusion
  • Known hypersensitivity to iron preparations
  • Those who are not willing to participate.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Oral iron group
Participants assigned to this group will receive oral iron therapy according to the standard pediatric treatment protocol for moderate iron deficiency anemia. Hemoglobin levels and clinical response will be monitored during the study period to assess the effectiveness and safety of oral iron supplementation.
Drug: Oral ferrous sulfate
Administration of oral ferrous sulfate at a dose of 3-6 mg/kg/day of elemental iron for treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
Drug: iron sucrose
Administration of intravenous iron sucrose according to the calculated iron deficit under medical supervision. (Ganzoni formula)
Active Comparator: IV IRON GROUP
Participants assigned to this group will receive intravenous (IV) iron therapy according to the standard pediatric treatment protocol for moderate iron deficiency anemia. Hemoglobin levels, iron status, and clinical response will be monitored throughout the study period to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of IV iron administration.
Drug: Oral ferrous sulfate
Administration of oral ferrous sulfate at a dose of 3-6 mg/kg/day of elemental iron for treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
Drug: iron sucrose
Administration of intravenous iron sucrose according to the calculated iron deficit under medical supervision. (Ganzoni formula)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
increase in hb from baseline
Time Frame: 6 months
6 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Kharadar General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 17, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 18, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 17, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • KGH-ERB:2026/02

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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Conditions

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Dietary Supplements

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