Relative effectiveness of iron bis-glycinate chelate (Ferrochel) and ferrous sulfate in the control of iron deficiency in pregnant women

The relative effectiveness of daily supplementation of iron deficiency duri ng pregnancy using 15 mg/day of iron from iron-bis-glycinate chelate (71 pr egnant women), or 40 mg iron from ferrous sulfate (74 pregnant women) was e valuated by measuring hemoglobin, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin , at the beginning of the study (< 20 weeks of pregnancy) and at 20-30 week s and 30-40 weeks thereafter. Ingestion for 13 weeks or more was considered adequate. Seventy three percent of the Ferrochel consuming group and 35% o f the ferrous sulfate consuming group were considered to have taken the tre atment adequately. The decrease in levels of all the measured parameters wa s significantly less pronounced in the group that consumed Ferrochel in spi te of the lower treatment dose. Iron depletion was found in 30.8% of the wo men treated with Ferrochel and in 54.5% of the women than consumed ferrous sulfate. Of the factors responsible for non compliance taste was reported i n 29.8% of the ferrous sulfate consumers and none in the groups that consum ed Ferrochel. It is concluded that daily supplementation with Ferrochel was significantly more effective, in spite of the lower dose, than supplementa tion with ferrous sulfate.