Ferrous sulfate and blood iron levels in women with low iron stores
What it found
In 10 women with low iron stores, ferrous sulfate raised blood iron and unbound iron much more than two other iron forms.
The rise was larger than after drinking water alone.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood iron rise
Ferrous sulfate caused a much bigger rise in blood iron than the other two iron forms or plain water. Iron polymaltose did not raise blood iron any more than water alone.
Unbound iron in blood
Ferrous sulfate led to much higher levels of unbound iron in the blood compared to the other treatments. The two slow-release iron forms kept these levels very low after dosing.
Differences between sexes
When comparing these results with earlier data from men, the link between total blood iron and unbound iron was steeper in men than in women.
What the authors conclude
- They say the two slow-release iron forms kept unbound iron levels very low after dosing.
- They suggest these two forms could be a safe choice for iron supplements in areas where malaria is common.
How it was done
Iron supplements can interact badly with malaria. Scientists wanted to test different iron forms for use in areas where malaria is common.
Ten Guatemalan women with low iron stores each took 100 mg of iron from three different compounds or plain water. Blood samples were taken every 90 minutes over 270 minutes. Results were compared with earlier data from men who had enough iron.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This study only followed 10 women for about four and a half hours. It cannot show what happens with long-term daily use.
- The comparison with men used data from a separate group rather than testing men and women together at the same time.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Research Center for Nutrition and Food Science (ZIEL), Germany
The paper
- Title
- Differences in circulating non-transferrin-bound iron after oral administration of ferrous sulfate, sodium iron EDTA, or iron polymaltose in women with marginal iron stores
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Schümann K, Solomons NW, Orozco M, Romero-Abal ME, Weiss G (2013). Differences in circulating non-transferrin-bound iron after oral administration of ferrous sulfate, sodium iron EDTA, or iron polymaltose in women with marginal iron stores. Food and nutrition bulletin. doi:10.1177/156482651303400207PubMed 23964391DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error