Absorption of Low and Therapeutic Doses of Ferric Maltol, a Novel Ferric Iron Compound, in Iron Deficient Subjects Using a Single Dose Iron Absorption Test

Abstract

Ferric maltol is a novel ferric iron compound with potential use as an oral therapy for iron deficiency anaemia. Using a single, low dose iron absorption test we compared absorption of ferric maltol with absorption of ferrous sulphate in 21 iron deficient subjects. Absorption of 10 mg of ferric maltol as either aqueous solution or a single tablet compared favourably with that of an equivalent dose of ferrous sulphate. At a higher, more therapeutic dose of 60 mg elemental iron as tablets, absorption of ferric maltol appeared to be both more rapid and total absorption greater, than that seen with ferrous sulphate. We conclude that iron from ferric maltol, both at low dose and higher, more therapeutic doses, is at least as well absorbed as from ferrous sulphate. Ferric maltol is the first ferric iron formulation to be absorbed to a degree equivalent to that of ferrous iron salts and may represent a viable form of administration for ferric iron in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.

Ferric Maltol Is Effective in Correcting Iron Deficiency Anemia in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

“…Evaluation of ORs in the responder analysis in this study illustrated that it is more difficult to achieve a clinically significant improvement in Hb in patients with mild-to-moderate anemia than it is in patients with more severe anemia 34,35. Although inclusion of only patients with mild-to-moderate anemia was a prerequisite for the incorporation of a placebo control arm in this trial, it is tempting to speculate whether greater treatment effects could be achieved in patients with more severe anemia at baseline, as have been included in previous published studies assessing ferrous sulfate in IBD 17,47…”

Ferric maltol therapy for iron deficiency anaemia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: long‐term extension data from a Phase 3 study

“…Disease‐specific quality of life and general quality of life were assessed at randomisation, Week 12, and at 12‐weekly intervals thereafter during the long‐term extension using the IBDQ and the 36‐item Short‐Form (SF‐36) questionnaire, respectively.…”

The identification of antioxidants in dark soy sauce

“…Therefore, the amount of daily maltol intake can be considerable. Maltol has even been suggested to be capable of exerting neuroprotective activity by inhibiting oxidative damage [22 -24], and its iron chelate has been used to treat anaemia in humans [25]. At present the pharmacokinetics of maltol after oral dosing have only been investigated in dogs and indicate rapid and extensive absorbtion, followed by conjugation and rapid excretion [26].…”

“…As has been suggested for other nutritional antioxidants [2,42,43], melanoidins may play a role in the antioxidant defence of the gastrointestinal tract, since they are unlikely to be absorbed as such. Maltol may well be absorbed [25], however, and could conceivably exert systemic antioxidant effects.…”