Last update Jan. 25, 2025

Iron, ferrous compounds and salts

Compatible

Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.

The various ferrous iron salts and compounds (ascorbate, aspartate, citrate, chloride, fumarate, gluconate, lactate, oxalate, proteinsuccinilate, succinate, sucrose, sulfate, glycine-sulfate, etc.) are used in oral administration to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia.

Their molecular weight varies from 170 for fumarate and succinate, through 280 for lactate and sulfate to 400 for aspartate and ascorbate.

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

The characteristics of iron metabolism in the body make it unlikely that it can pass in significant quantity into breast milk.

It is a medication used in Pediatrics and Neonatology for treatment and prevention of anemias.

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:

  • Iron Dextran (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)
  • Maternal Anemia (Safe product and/or breastfeeding is the best option.)

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Iron, ferrous compounds and salts 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, ferrous compounds and salts is also known as


Group

Iron, ferrous compounds and salts belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Iron, ferrous compounds and salts in its composition:

List of 85 tradenames

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. 5 - 20 %
Molecular weight de 170 a 406 según sal ferrosa daltons
T½ 6 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. Keikha M, Shayan-Moghadam R, Bahreynian M, Kelishadi R. Nutritional supplements and mother's milk composition: a systematic review of interventional studies. Int Breastfeed J. 2021 Jan 4;16(1):1. Abstract Full text (link to original source)
  4. AEMPS. Sulfato ferroso. Ficha técnica. 2015 Full text (in our servers)
  5. Mello-Neto J, Rondó PH, Oshiiwa M, Morgano MA, Zacari CZ, dos Santos ML. Iron supplementation in pregnancy and breastfeeding and iron, copper and zinc status of lactating women from a human milk bank. J Trop Pediatr. 2013 Abstract
  6. MHRA. Ferrous Sulfate. Drug Summary. 2011 Full text (in our servers)
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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)
  13. 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
  14. 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)
  15. 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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