Identification of Iron in Oral Iron Pharmaceuticals: Mössbauer Spectroscopy Study

Abstract

Iron deficiency is one of the best-known forms of nutritional disorders. The ferric and ferrous compounds are usually used in its treatment: ferric pyrophosphate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate. They are administered orally and are relatively well tolerated. Selected iron oral pharmaceutical products were studied using ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence method. Using X-ray fluorescence, we can determine the content of elements in the tested products, particularly Fe. Mössbauer spectroscopy allows us to determine the oxidation state of Fe and the relative content of these ions in the investigated oral iron pharmaceuticals. The X-ray fluorescence results show that most investigated products contained much higher Fe values than those declared in the product leaflets. The results of ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy research show that ferric pyrophosphate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate are the main Fe-containing compounds in the investigated products.