Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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VOLUME 13 , ISSUE 3 ( May-June, 2021 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Ferrous Ascorbate: Current Clinical Place of Therapy in the Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Alka Kriplani, Bhaskar Pal, Vidya Bhat

Keywords : Efficacy, Ferrous ascorbate, India, Iron deficiency anemia, Supplemental iron, Tolerability

Citation Information : Kriplani A, Pal B, Bhat V. Ferrous Ascorbate: Current Clinical Place of Therapy in the Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia. J South Asian Feder Obs Gynae 2021; 13 (3):103-109.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10006-1896

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 09-09-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a major public health problem in India. Iron deficiency can easily be corrected with iron supplementations. Oral iron preparations are used for mild to moderate anemia and available for the supplementation of iron including ferrous sulfate, fumarate, gluconate, glutamate, succinate, and lactate, and the reference product of ferrous ascorbate. In clinical practice, ferrous ascorbate is the most widely prescribed oral iron supplement as it has a good efficacy and is well tolerated in both adults and children. Ferrous ascorbate has a better bioavailability, as high as 67%, and utilization of iron when compared to other iron preparations, including sucrosomial iron. Ferrous ascorbate lacks food interactions and can be administered without regard to food. Ferrous ascorbate is a stable chelate that does not dissociate in the gastrointestinal tract. Higher absorption of iron from ferrous ascorbate can be explained by the ascorbate component that prevents oxidation of the iron to a ferric state. A mean rise in hemoglobin (Hb) greater than 5.0 g/dL in 60 days and greater than 2.0 g/dL within 45 days is reported with once-daily therapy of ferrous ascorbate. Ferrous ascorbate is also efficacious for the prophylaxis of anemia in patients who undergo surgical procedures. Ferrous ascorbate is more effective than ferrous sulfate or carbonyl iron for the treatment of IDA. Thus, ferrous ascorbate has an important place in the clinical management of IDA in real-life scenarios.


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