Ferrous gluconate dosing

Cow milk-based infant formulas are supplemented with iron at levels of about 12 mg/liter. Here, the iron is added as ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate. Commercial infant cereals are supplemented with sma[l iron particles (powdered iron) at levels dose to 50 mg iron per 100 g dry cereal. The particles have a diameter of less than 10 mm. This amount of iron is tenfold greater than the iron naturally present in the cereal. The absorption of the iron supplied in particulate form is about i%. 

Ferrous gluconate in a daily intramuscular dose equivalent to 0-5 mg of elemental iron reduces cotton-pellet granulomata in rats there is evidence to suggest that this effect may be due to increased turnover of adrenocortico-steroids . 

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. 

Santarpia L, Pagano MC, Cuomo R, Alfonsi L, Contaldo F, Pasanisi F. Iron absorption following a single oral dose of ferrous sulfete or ferric gluconate in patients with gastrectomy. Ann Nutr Metab 2013 63(l-2) 55-9. 

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