Absorption of Iron From Sustained Release and Rapidly Disintegrating Tablets

Abstract.The absorption of iron from a sustained release preparation given in a dose of 100 mg ferrous iron twice daily (at breakfast and at dinner or bedtime) has been compared to the absorption from a rapidly disintegrating ferrous sulphate tablet given in a dose of 50 mg iron 4 times daily (at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime). The studies were performed in 34 subjects—20 blood donors and 14 patients with iron deficiency anemia. In blood donors the same amount of iron was absorbed from the two types of medication. In patients with iron deficiency anemia significantly more iron was absorbed from the sustained release preparation. There was no indication that the time of intake of the second daily dose of the sustained release preparation had any significant influence on the absorption.