Table 4
Author, date and countryPatient groupStudy type (level of evidence)OutcomesKey resultsStudy weaknesses
Gomez HF et al, 1997, USA11 healthy adult volunteersControlled, prospective crossover studyMaximum serum iron concentration:Healthy volunteers
- iron only150 μg/dl 36Strict exclusion criteria
- iron plus activated charcoal (AC)94 μg/dl 23Physiological doses of iron rather than toxic doses
- iron plus AC plus desferrioxamine37 μg/dl 13
(p 0.0017)
Time to maximum serum iron concentration:
- iron only3.5 h 0.3
- iron plus AC3.6 h 0.5
- iron plus AC plus desferrioxamine3.0 h 1.0