Last update Jan. 22, 2025

Iron Dextran

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

Iron hydroxide complex with dextran for parenteral administration in cases of iron deficiency anemia with intolerance, ineffectiveness or impossibility of oral iron administration. 

At the date of the last update, we found no published data on its excretion in breast milk.

Its high molecular weight and high percentage of fixation to plasma proteins make it unlikely that it can pass in significant quantity into breast milk. 

It is a medication used in neonatology for the treatment of anemia of prematurity. 

The recommended daily intake of iron in a nursing mother is 9-10 mg and should not exceed 45 mg daily (NIH 2023, 2022, 2001). Supplementation can decrease the concentration of copper and zinc in plasma and breast milk. (Mello 2013, Haidar 2005, Ortega 1998)

Iron is excreted in small amount in breast milk by a self-regulating mechanism. There is no correlation between maternal daily iron intake and its concentration in breast milk (Keikha 2021, Yalçin 2009, Hannan 2009, Muslimatun 2001). Maternal iron supplementation does not increase iron levels in breast milk or infant plasma significantly. (Breymann 2007, Baykan 2006)

List of essential medicines WHO 2002: compatible with breastfeeding. (WHO 2002)


See below the information of these related products:

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Iron Dextran since it is relatively safe.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Iron Dextran in other languages or writings:

Group

Iron Dextran belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Iron Dextran in its composition:

List of 26 tradenames

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 0 %
Molecular weight 165.000 daltons
Protein Binding 100 %
Tmax 72 hours
T½ 5 - 10 hours

References

  1. NIH. Iron. Fact Sheet for Consumers 2023 Full text (link to original source)
  2. NIH. Hierro. Hoja informativa para consumidores. 2022 Full text (link to original source)
  3. Yalçin SS, Baykan A, Yurdakök K, Yalçin S, Gücüş AI. The factors that affect milk-to-serum ratio for iron during early lactation. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2009 Abstract
  4. Hannan MA, Faraji B, Tanguma J, Longoria N, Rodriguez RC. Maternal milk concentration of zinc, iron, selenium, and iodine and its relationship to dietary intakes. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Abstract
  5. Breymann C, von Seefried B, Stahel M, Geisser P, Canclini C. Milk iron content in breast-feeding mothers after administration of intravenous iron sucrose complex. J Perinat Med. 2007 Abstract
  6. Baykan A, Yalçin SS, Yurdakök K. Does maternal iron supplementation during the lactation period affect iron status of exclusively breast-fed infants? Turk J Pediatr. 2006 Abstract
  7. Haidar J, Umeta M, Kogi-Makau W. Effect of iron supplementation on serum zinc status of lactating women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. East Afr Med J. 2005 Abstract
  8. WHO / UNICEF. BREASTFEEDING AND MATERNAL MEDICATION Recommendations for Drugs in the Eleventh WHO Model List of Essential Drugs. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (WHO/UNICEF) 2002 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  9. Institute of Medicine (US) Panel on Micronutrients. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2001. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  10. Muslimatun S, Schmidt MK, West CE, Schultink W, Hautvast JG, Karyadi D. Weekly vitamin A and iron supplementation during pregnancy increases vitamin A concentration of breast milk but not iron status in Indonesian lactating women. J Nutr. 2001 Oct;131(10):2664-9. Abstract
  11. Ortega RM, López-Sobaler AM, Andrés P, Martínez RM, Quintas ME. [Supplementation with iron and folates during gestation: influence on the zinc status in the mother and on the zinc content in the maternal milk]. Med Clin (Barc). 1998 Abstract

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