title: Comparison of polysaccharide iron complexes used as iron supplements.
abstract: An oral hematinic marketed as "water soluble polysaccharide iron complex" (Vitaline Formulas) has been characterized using x-ray powder diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Another polysaccharide iron complex marketed as Niferex (Central Pharmaceuticals) has been previously studied by us and found to have a core similar to ferrihydrite, but with some long-range order of the mineral akaganéite, beta-FeOOH. The latter is seen in other ferric carbohydrate complexes synthesized by the hydrolysis of FeCl3. This commercial product, however, is very different and has a mixture of iron components including hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) magnetite (Fe3O4), goethite (alpha-FeOOH), iron metal, and a ferrous salt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemisty, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Speer
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bereman
mesh_terms: D006397:Hematinics / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D015204:Spectroscopy, Mossbauer; D013607:Tablets / Q000737:chemistry; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D013607:Tablets; D007501:Iron