Comparative Effectiveness of Various Iron Compounds in Promoting Iron Retention and Hemoglobin Regeneration by Anemic Rats

Abstract

The retention of iron from different sources by anemic rats was qualitatively and quantitatively similar irrespective of whether the iron salts were fed as such or contained in bread. The various iron compounds tested showed the following order of effectiveness with respect to the relative degree of iron retention and hemoglobin regeneration produced in anemic rats: ferric chloride > sodium ferric orthophosphate = ferric phosphate > reduced iron > sodium iron pyrophosphate. Prevention of anemia in milk-fed rats given supplements of ferric chloride or soidum iron pyrophasphate for 40 days after weaning (21 days) gave results for relative iron retention and hemoglobin regeneration similar to those obtained with depleted rats fed the same supplements for 28 days.