Equivalent bioavailability of iron from ferrous salts and a ferric polymaltose complex. Clinical and experimental studies.

In both experimental animals and human subjects iron absorption over a wide dosage range was quantitatively equivalent from ferrous salts and a ferric polymaltose complex under basal conditions. The comparable bioavailability was maintained when demand was increased by iron depletion or erythroid stimulation and depressed by expansion of body stores or impaired erythropoiesis. This common pattern for iron retention from both salt and complex supports the interchangeable use of these products in therapy of absolute iron deficiency.