The human body is considered as one major operating system that is helped run by the different nutrients in the body. These nutrients can be naturally produced by the body or can also be acquired through diet or food intake. Nutrients can be in the form of minerals, vitamins or even electrolytes. The body is always in constant need of these elements in order to maintain and or keep the body in good condition. Any deviation from the normal levels of these nutrients can already cause significant effects in the body. One of the most important and common minerals that help maintain the body in good physical condition is iron. However, iron comes in many different forms such as ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate. What is the difference between ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate?
What is the Importance of Iron for the Human Body?
Iron is considered an essential mineral that our body needs in order to have optimum functioning. It is required for the production of RBC or otherwise known as red blood cells. As soon as the body fails to obtain or acquire the needed or required amount of iron, the normal production of RBCs is also affected thus causing a deficiency. This leads to the condition commonly known as iron deficiency anemia.
Although iron can be acquired through the intake or consumption or high iron containing foods, some people still require additional supplementation. This is where mineral or iron supplements come into the picture. This iron supplementation is required in order to meet the needs of the body. This is also significant among individuals who are suffering from hemorrhage or bleeding as well as women who are menstruating. Most people who suffer minimal amounts of blood loss such as while menstruating, take this condition lightly. However, a constant flow of blood out of the body, even if it is in small amounts, can cause significant changes in the levels of iron in the blood. This deficiency, however, is only determined by the doctor. This is the reason why regular checkups are important so as to provide a proper diagnosis as well as identify the causes of the deficiency as well as the need for any supplementation. Some of the most common conditions that can lead to the use of iron supplementation are burns, kidney diseases or problems, bleeding conditions as well as abnormalities in the intestines.
What is the difference between the two types of iron salts namely ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate?
To make things short, ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate are different kinds of salts of iron. Both of these iron salts can be given in order to correct conditions pertaining to iron deficiency. Nevertheless, there are actually small or insignificant differences between the two types of iron salts.
What is ferrous gluconate?
Ferrous gluconate or Iron(II) gluconate is a black compound that is often used as an iron supplementation. It is recognized as the iron(II) salt of gluconic acid. This mineral is also marketed under the name or the brand Fergon,
Iron gluconate is an efficient mineral in treating a condition like hypochromic anemia. Using this kind of compound as to compare to other iron preparations has led to the satisfactory reticulocyte responses, which is a high percentage utilization of iron. This can increase the hemoglobin level to normal in just a very short time. Aside from supplements, ferrous sulfate is also used as a food additive in processing black olives thus causing its color. Nevertheless, too much intake of this compound can also be toxic to the body. Children that exceed the normal intake amount of 10 to 20 mg/kg can exhibit the harmful effects such as irritation to the GI mucosa and negative results or effects on the heart and blood such as dehydration, a decrease in blood pressure as well as rapid or weak pulse. Some may also experience a shock in more severe cases.
What is ferrous sulfate?
Ferrous sulfate or otherwise known as iron(II) sulfate is the chemical compound with a formula FeSO4. This compound is already known since the ancient times and is actually considered as the most common form of this mineral. Just like any other iron compounds, ferrous sulfate is also used in fortifying foods and treat iron deficiency anemia. Nevertheless, ferrous sulfate can also cause constipation in increased levels as its side effects. This is why doctors usually include stool softeners in adjunct to the prescription of ferrous sulfate supplement.
These are basically some of the important facts about ferrous gluconate and ferrous sulfate.