Effectiveness of treatment of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and young children with ferrous bis-glycinate chelate

Forty infants, 6 to 36 mo old, with iron-deficiency anemia (hemoglobin < 11 gr/dL) were matched and assigned to two groups. One group received FeSO4 and the other received ferrous bisglycinate chelate at a dose of 5 mg of Fe daily per kilogram of body weight for 28 d. Both groups had significant hemoglobin increases (P < 0.001), but only the group treated with ferrous bis-glycinate chelate had significant increases (P < 0.005) in plasma ferritin. Apparent iron bioavailabilities were calculated at 26.7% for FeSO4 and 90.9% for ferrous bis-glycinate chelate. Regression analysis indicated that absorption of both sources of iron were similarly regulated by the body according to changes in hemoglobin. We concluded that ferrous bisglycinate chelate is the iron of choice for the treatment of infants with iron-deficiency anemia because of its high bioavailability and good regulation.