#ferrous ascorbate

What is Ferrous Ascorbate?

Ferrous Ascorbate is a result of the reaction of Ascorbate Acid with Iron. Iron is absorbed without any difficulty in the presence of Ascorbic Acid as it converts Ferric Iron into Ferrous Iron. At the neutral pH level, the Ferrous form of Iron is highly soluble and can be absorbed three times higher than the Ferric form. Ferrous Ascorbate safely exists inside our gastrointestinal tract due to the stable chelation of Ascorbate acid with Iron.

Why Ferrous Ascorbate is better than other Iron salts?

Ferrous Ascorbate is better due to fewer gastrointestinal side effects and is readily absorbed than other Iron salts like Ferrous Sulphate. This makes Ferrous Ascorbate a preferred choice to cure the iron deficiency in the blood. Ferrous Ascorbate is also used as an immunity enhancer.

Uses of Ferrous Ascorbate

Ferrous Ascorbate is used to treat Iron deficiency-related hemoglobin disorders. Ferrous Ascorbate with Folic Acid drugs is given to women during pregnancy because it helps the growth of the brain and spinal cord development of the foetus.

Ferrous Ascorbate is a drug prescribed as an Iron supplement to treat or avoid low Iron levels in our blood. The absorption of Iron from our stomach is increased by Ascorbic Acid commonly known as Vitamic C. When the Iron is taken from the diet isn’t enough then generally Ferrous Ascorbate is given. This medication is also given to treat anemia due to chronic kidney failure.

Ferrous Ascorbate acts as a catalyst that stimulates the transport & use of oxygen. It also helps to grow red blood cell production and hemoglobin production.

Acceptance in Indian Pharmacopoeia

Due to the overwhelming usage and acceptability of Ferrous Ascorbate in the Indian Pharma market, the Government of India Department of Health and Family Welfare has decided to include this product under IP.

The same will be implemented from the 1st of Jan 2022.

Availability of Ferrous Ascorbate

Ferrous Ascorbate is available as powdered grade & DC Grade/Compacted.

Introduction

WHO & UNICEF have recommended taking oral iron supplements for adolescents and young children in the countries where 40% of anaemia is prevalent in population. Most of the oral iron formulations are available in the form of ferrous sulphate as well as in the form of ferric compounds consisting of Iron Polymaltose complex.

These iron compounds differ in the bio-availability, safety, cost and side effects. Apart from the different chemical states of iron formulations available in the market, they also exist in different genic forms.

Clinically, iron salts that are bivalent like Ferrous Sulphate, Ferrous Fumarate and Ferrous Gluconate are widely used than the ferric iron forms. The bio-availability of ferric forms of iron is 3-4 times less than the ferrous forms (10 to 15% bio-availability).

Ferric forms of iron are poorly soluble in alkaline solutions and hence they have to be transformed into ferrous forms before they are absorbed.

Oral iron preparations have followed the conventional ‘prolonged-release’ formulation, which improves the toleration capacity of the gastrointestinal tract and enhances the bio-availability. After the ferrous form absorption, iron reaches its maximum in the blood for about 7 hours and stays in that state for 24 hours.

Advantages of Ferrous Ascorbate

Ferrous Ascorbate results from the reaction of Ascorbic Acid with Iron. Iron is absorbed very well in the presence of ascorbic acid, as this compound is known to convert ferric iron into ferrous iron.

1. Ferrous form of iron is soluble at neutral pH and can be absorbed three times higher than the ferric form. Oxidation is prevented by Ascorbic acid, which can thus act as reducing agent as well as maintain the iron in ferrous form.

2. Ferrous Ascorbate is known to exist intact inside the gastrointestinal tract due to the stable chelation of iron with ascorbate. This compound does not dissociate due to any of the food inhibitors.  Iron gets absorbed easily in vivo from Ferrous Ascorbate than from Ferrous Sulphate.

3. It is found that Ferrous Ascorbate dissociates in aqueous solution into ascorbate ion and ferrous ion where ascorbate ion acts as a monodentate. Ferrous Ascorbate is known to dissociate at pH5. At pH6 to 8, the solubility effect is enhanced by ascorbate, which is beneficial for the absorption of iron.

Study on Ferrous Ascorbate Formulations

A clinical study was conducted comparing the ferrous ascorbate formulation with that of ferrous sulphate in 18 healthy volunteers. The intestinal absorption was not different when measured after 21 days. But, haemoglobin content has come to baseline values in both the groups. Another study by the same research group was conducted in which the bio-availability of trivalent iron form (Ferric Hydroxide Polymaltose Complex) was compared with the bivalent form (Ferrous Ascorbate).

The iron absorption in the intestines was evaluated in the fasting state by the estimation of plasma iron tolerance curves and whole body iron retention values. The estimation of plasma iron showed lower Fe (III) content (1.2+/-0.1percent) compared to 43.7+/-7.1percent of Ferrous Ascorbate. After taking a meal, there was a change in divalent iron absorption than the trivalent iron absorption.