Iron Absorption and Haemoglobin Regeneration Studies on a New Sustained Release Iron Preparation

The effectiveness of a new sustained release oral iron preparation containing 100 mg of ferrous iron (Duroferon Duretter®) has been evaluated in. three separate studies. Study I . The absorption of iron was compared to the absorption from rapidly disintegrating ferrous sulphate tablets using a double radioiron technique. Dosage: 200 mg of ferrous iron daily. Study II . The haemoglobin regeneration rate was compared to the regeneration rate obtained with ordinary ferrous sulphate tablets in a cross‐over study in volunteers twice made anaemic and iron deficient by repeated phlebotomies. Dosage: 200 mg of ferrous iron daily. Study III . The haemoglobin regeneration rate was studied in a carefully selected homogeneous group of patients with iron deficiency anaemia. Dosage: 300 mg of ferrous iron daily. The absorption of iron from the sustained release tablets were significantly higher (mean 29 %) than from ordinary ferrous sulphate tablets. In the cross‐over study the haemoglobin regeneration rates obtained with the sustained release preparation were equivalent to that of ordinary ferrous sulphate tablets. All patients with iron deficiency anaemia reached normal haemoglobin values within. 7–10 weeks of treatment. The haemoglobin regeneration rates were the same as those found with optimal doses of oral and parenteral iron.