Iron is a normal component in human milk. Daily oral iron intake from prenatal vitamins or other multimineral supplements does not affect milk iron levels. Higher daily oral iron dosing has a minimal effect on milk iron levels and is not expected to cause harm to the breastfed infant if needed to treat the mother’s anemia, but it is not an adequate substitute for direct infant iron supplementation to prevent or treat infant anemia.

OBJECTIVES: Anemia is one of the most prevalent nutritional diseases worldwide, primarily caused by iron deficiency. Poor absorption of dietary iron results from its low bioavailability and interactions with food components. In that context, dietary iron supplementation has been widely used to treat iron deficiency anemia. For many years, there has been growing interest in exploring various types of iron supplementation to improve the efficacy of iron supplements, satisfying iron needs and lowering side effects. This study aimed to generate preliminary data regarding the effect of co-administration of copper on ferrous gluconate intestinal absorption. To address this question, the iron absorption from ferrous gluconate was measured using the Caco-2 cell model, by determining apparent permeability (Papp) of ferrous gluconate with or without presence of copper gluconate. These results are based on a single experiment and should be interpreted accordingly. RESULTS: Under experimental conditions, a 4.9-fold increase in iron Papp values was seen when ferrous gluconate was incubated with copper gluconate. These preliminary findings suggest that co-administration of ferrous gluconate with copper gluconate may enhance iron absorption and would provide an additional and valuable benefit for treating iron deficiency compared to conventional iron supplements with iron alone.

Dietary iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca) intervention can reduce rice cadmium (Cd) bioavailability, however, the efficacy of various Fe-Ca combinations and impacts on gut health remain poorly understood. By exposing mice to Cd-containing rice alongside with Fe (100 mg Fe L[-][1] in drinking water) and Ca supplementation (4000 mg Ca kg[-1] in diet), we investigated the effects of different forms of Fe-Ca co-intervention on Cd bioavailability, nutrition status, gut microbiota, and gut health. Results showed that Fe-Ca co-intervention reduced mouse liver and kidney Cd concentrations synergistically due to downregulation of both Fe and Ca intestinal transporters, with ferrous gluconate combined with Ca gluconate (Fe-Glu+Ca-Glu) being most efficient. Fe-Ca combination also avoided the nutritional imbalance effects of Fe and Ca alone. However, gut microbiota and gut health analyses, including 16S rRNA sequencing, mRNA expression of intestinal tight junctions and pro-inflammatory cytokines, and ileal tissue section staining, demonstrated that Fe-Glu+Ca-Glu remarkably decreased relative abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, damaged intestinal morphology, enhanced intestinal permeability, and elevated intestinal inflammatory responses. Assessment effects of gluconic acid intake in mice confirmed the gut health side effects of Fe-Glu+Ca-Glu were caused by high intake of gluconate ligand. In comparison, the combination of ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) with Ca hydrogen phosphate (CaHPO4) demonstrated limited effects on gut microbiota and gut health while being efficient in reducing rice Cd bioavailability. Collectively, our findings identify inorganic rather than organic Fe-Ca combinations may be safe, efficient, and gut-friendly strategy to address dietary Cd exposure risk and nutrient deficiency.

To evaluate the effects of whey protein peptide-ferrous chelate (WPP-Fe) on iron deficiency anemia (IDA), this study investigated its influence on iron metabolism, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota in IDA mice. The results showed that medium-dose WPP-Fe (2.0 mg Fe/kg BW) exhibited superior efficacy compared with ferrous chloride (FeCl₂) and ferrous gluconate (Fe-gluc). WPP-Fe significantly increased hemoglobin levels (156.35 ± 3.75 g/L) and iron bioavailability (331.9 ± 43.88%), while alleviating oxidative stress through regulation of inflammatory cytokines and enhancement of antioxidant capacity. Notably, gut microbiota analysis further revealed that WPP-Fe increased the Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio and enriched Ileibacterium, a genus positively associated with hemoglobin levels, indicating a potential link between iron supplementation and gut microbial regulation. In summary, WPP-Fe exerts synergistic effects to enhance iron supplementation and alleviate IDA-related disturbances, supporting its potential as a novel functional iron source for nutritional and functional food applications.

Background Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is highly prevalent among women of reproductive age. Despite the wide availability of oral iron formulations, real-world evidence on prescribing practices, treatment outcomes, and patient experiences remains limited. This retrospective, questionnaire-based study evaluated clinical management strategies for anemia in women, focusing on the comparative effectiveness and tolerability of commonly used oral iron salts. Methods This retrospective, multicentric, observational study analyzed anonymized electronic medical records (2018-2024) of anemic women aged 15-49 years across diverse Indian regions. A structured digital questionnaire captured patient-reported symptoms, treatment preferences, and management strategies. The impact of oral iron supplements on hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin levels, quality of life, and their associated safety profiles was evaluated. Newer-generation iron formulations were excluded to maintain data uniformity. Results Participants (ages 15-49 years, mean 32.79) were drawn from all major regions of India, providing a geographically diverse representation. Hemoglobin was the main diagnostic criterion (91.01%). Anemia severity was moderate in 46.62%, mild in 44.01%, and severe in 9.37%, with iron deficiency as the leading cause in 95.80% cases. All iron supplements showed significant improvement (all p < 0.001) in hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ferritin. Ferrous fumarate, the most frequently prescribed iron salt, likely due to its high elemental iron content and convenient dosing regimen, demonstrated significant improvement in hemoglobin levels, increasing from 8.67 ± 1.12 to 11.66 ± 1.18 g/dL. The greatest hemoglobin rise was seen with ferrous fumarate (2.99 ± 1.45 g/dL), followed by ferrous sulfate (2.45 ± 1.29), ferrous ascorbate (2.31 ± 1.27), and ferrous gluconate (1.98 ± 1.38). Quality of life improved most with ferrous fumarate (90.10% reporting better overall health). Adverse events were reported in 29% of participants, most commonly constipation (39.06%). Conclusion This large-scale, real-world analysis reinforces the central role of oral iron salts in managing IDA among women of reproductive age in India. Ferrous fumarate emerged as the most effective formulation, delivering superior hematologic improvements and quality of life gains with an acceptable safety profile. Notably, its efficacy may be further enhanced when combined with absorption-promoting agents such as protein hydrolysates, which improve non-heme iron solubility and bioavailability. These findings underscore the importance of evidence-based, patient-tailored supplementation strategies and highlight the potential of optimizing existing formulations with synergistic enhancers to strengthen national anemia control efforts.

This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of sex-specific iron supplementation combined with Angelica sinensis and Agrimonia pilosa on fatigue in pigeons. In Trial 1, 70 pigeons (35 males and 35 females) were randomly divided into seven groups and fed diets supplemented with 100 or 150 mg/kg of ferrous lactate, ferrous gluconate, or ferrous fumarate for 28 days. Blood biochemical indices were monitored weekly to identify the optimal iron source for each sex. The results indicated that female pigeons responded best to 150 mg/kg ferrous lactate, whereas male pigeons responded best to 150 mg/kg ferrous gluconate. In Trial 2, 30 pigeons (15 males and 15 females) were randomly assigned to three groups: control (basal diet), low-dose (3 g/kg A. sinensis: A. pilosa = 1:1 plus sex-specific iron), and high-dose (6 g/kg plus sex-specific iron). Blood samples were collected before supplementation, after 28 days, immediately post-exercise, and after 1 h recovery. Combined nutritional intervention mitigated the accumulation of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood lactic acid (BLA), decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, decreased creatine kinase (CK) release into the bloodstream, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, enhanced total antioxidant activity (T-AOC) in the serum, and upregulated post-exercise antioxidant capacity in pigeons, ultimately enhancing exercise endurance. This approach shows promise as a sustainable strategy for treating pigeon fatigue.

Streptococcus hemolyticus has recently regained public attention as "man-eating bacteria" and raised significant public health concerns due to the ever-increasing incidence of infections and severe toxic shock syndrome resulting from inadequate treatment. The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance further emphasizes the urgent need for the development of novel wound dressings to prevent infections. This study demonstrated that ferrous gluconate (FeGlu) facilitated ferroptosis in S. hemolyticus accompanied with hallmarks of iron dependence, reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, and lipid peroxidation. Moreover, the addition of inhibitors, including liproxstatin-1 (LIP-1), N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) and glutathione (GSH) hindered the happening of ferroptosis. In light of this, an antibacterial hydrogel was formulated by cross-linking FeGlu with sodium alginate (SA). This hydrogel exhibited excellent fluidity, self-healing properties, biocompatibility, and exceptional bactericidal efficacy. Furthermore, it displayed a superior therapeutic effect while posing no toxic risk in human skin fibroblast (HSF) cells. Proteomic analysis revealed that the FeGlu-hydrogel induced cell death by disrupting various pathways, including transmembrane transport, biomacromolecule synthesis, and cellular metabolism. Additionally, the FeGlu-hydrogel displayed a broad bactericidal spectrum against Streptococcus species, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus mutans. Collectively, these results proved that the FeGlu-hydrogel is a promising biomaterial for the treatment of Streptococcus-related infections.

Minimising facial adiposity is a growing esthetic concern for individuals seeking a slimmer facial appearance. While various surgical and nonsurgical approaches have been used, innovative methods for noninvasive facial contouring continue to emerge. This report presents a case of facial slimming utilising a novel injectable solution comprising ascorbic acid and ferrous gluconate, prepared in a 1:9 ratio. This solution targets adipocyte apoptosis and was administered with a defined injection protocol. The treatment results were monitored with schematic illustrations depicting the injection points across key facial areas: zygomatic arch, nasolabial fold, jowls, and submentum. Photographs from lateral, frontal, and 45-degree angles were taken before and after treatment to document the efficacy. Detailed observations on treatment efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction are included, along with a discussion on the potential of this method in esthetic practice.