Effect of Lactoferrin therapy on interleukin 6, anemia and malnutrition in prevalent hemodialysis patients

Background The levels of serum inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL6) have been discovered to be significantly elevated in around 30 to 50% of patients with chronic kidney disease. Aim To study the effect of lactoferrin therapy on serum interleukin-6 and anemia as markers of Malnutrition and inflammation in prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients. Patients and methods Interventional case-control study, conducted at Ain Shams University Hospital HD unit on 70 prevalent HD patients divided into two groups: (group A): 35 patients with functional iron deficiency anemia, received lactoferrin together with the recommended dose of erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESA) therapy for 3 months, (group B): 35 patients with functional iron deficiency anemia, received only their recommended dose of ESA therapy for 3 months. Results Both groups were age and sex-matched. In the lactoferrin treated group, there was a statistically significant decrease in inflammatory markers, but there was no statistical difference in hemoglobin after 3 months post therapy in both groups. Conclusion Lactoferrin has a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect, with no additive effect in the management of iron-deficiency anemia and inflammation in prevalent HD patients.