Photo Credit: Elena Nechaeva
The following is a summary of “Iron deficiency and supplementation in heart failure,” published in the February 2024 issue of Cardiology by Lakhal-Littleton et al.
Non-anemic iron deficiency (NAID) is a significant concern in cardiovascular medicine due to its negative impact on various health conditions. Efforts to address NAID in heart failure have yielded mixed outcomes.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to address the gaps in defining iron deficiency and improving iron therapies in heart failure using the latest insights into iron homeostasis mechanisms.
They used integrated clinical and preclinical evidence to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of iron homeostasis in heart failure beyond red blood cell production, the erythron.
The results showed that current definitions of iron deficiency failed to consider all factors affecting patients with heart failure, leading to ineffective identification of those needing iron supplementation. Iron therapies benefit only specific heart failure patients due to differences in iron needs and how the body handles these therapies.
Investigators concluded that insights from NAID management in cardiovascular disease highlight the need to refine existing approaches and develop new strategies. Lessons learned could extend to benefit patients with chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer.
Source: nature.com/articles/s41569-024-00988-1
