Distribution of the carbohydrate polymer in 14C-labelled iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex after intramuscular administration in normal and anaemic rats.

The carbohydrate polymer in an iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex was prepared by using uniformly labelled 14C-sorbitol or 14C-gluconic acid. The distribution of these complexes 7, 14 and 28 days after administration has been followed in non-anaemic and anaemic rats. Most of the 14C from the labelled complexes was found in the expired CO2, faeces and urine. Twenty-eight days after injection of 14C-labelled Ferastral, less than 13% of the given dose of either 14C-sorbitol or 14C-gluconic acid labelled preparation could be found in the body. There was no specific accumulation of 14C in any organ except in the bones, where 3% of the given dose could be seen 28 days after 14C-gluconic acid labelled Ferastral to both non-anaemic and anaemic animals.