Studies on the placental transfer in rats of 59Fe- and 14C-labelled iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex.

The placental transfer of an iron-poly (sorbitol-gluconic acid) complex, Ferastral, has been studied. By use of the 59Fe-, 14C-sorbitol, and 14C-gluconic acid labelled complexes it was shown that the passage of the iron moiety is related to foetal need and that only negligible amounts of 14C from either 14C-sorbitol or 14C-gluconic acid labelled iron complexes were found in the foetus. This implies that the intact complex does not pass the placental barrier.