Absorption of iron from ferric hydroxypyranone complexes

The absorption of 59 Fe from preparations of FeSO 4 and the ferric hydroxypyranone complexes maltol and ethyl maltol was studied by whole-body counting in normal subjects and patients with Fe deficiency. Fe in the Fe 3+ complexes was in general absorbed almost as well as Fe 2+ . It is concluded that the absorption of Fe 3+ from hydroxypyranone complexes is much greater than that from simple Fe 3+ salts; this may prove an efficient and less toxic form of Fe for the treatment of deficiency.