Ferrous gluconate complex

Ferrous Gluconate Complex (Ferriecit) [Iron Supplement]... 

Ferrous sulfate (feosol, others) is the hydrated salt, FeSO 7Hff), which contains 20% iron. Ferrous fumarate (feostat, others) contains 33% iron and is moderately soluble in water, stable, and almost tasteless. Ferrous gluconate (fergon, others), which contains 12% iron, also is used in the therapy of iron-deficiency anemia. Polysaccharide—iron complex (niferex, others), a compound of ferrihydrite and carbohydrate, has comparable absorption. The effective dose of these preparations is based on iron content. 

Section 10 of the material safety data sheet for ferrous gluconate states that the complex is generally stable and that instability of ferrous gluconate at tanperatures has not been reported (MSDS 2005). 

Absorption of iron by the individual varies with age, iron status, the amount and chemical form of the iron ingested, and with conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, only about 5—15% of iron in the diet being normally absorbed. Ferrous iron, as the sulphate, gluconate, fumarate or lactate or as ferrous ammonium sulphate, is appreciably taken up into the bloodstream from the duodenum, especially in the presence of ascorbic acid, a reducing agent. Little difference was found in the extent of their absorption between ferrous sulphate and the various chelates, but ferric ammonium citrate or polysaccharide complexes were only very poorly absorbed22)... 

When desferrioxamine comes into contact with ferric iron, its straight-chain molecule twines around it and forms a nontoxic complex of great stability (ferrioxamine), which is excreted in the urine giving it a red/orange colour, and in the bile. It is not absorbed from the gut and must be injected for systemic effect. In acute poisoning, as opposed to chronic overload, desferrioxamine 5 g chelates the iron contained in about 10 tablets of ferrous sulphate or gluconate. It has a negligible affinity for other metals in the presence of iron excess. 

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