Neonatal pigs (143) were used to determine if adequate iron (Fe) would be stored following a single
oral dose of Fe methionine (FeMet) to prevent anemia through 21 d of age. Treatments consisted of:
control (no Fe), 200 mg injectable Fe as gleptoferron within 12 h of birth (at birth), 100 or 200 mg
Fe as FeMet orally at birth, or 200 mg Fe as FeMet or FeSO4 orally on d 3. Pigs given injectable Fe
had higher hemoglobin concentrations than other treatments at 14 and 21 d. Utilization of Fe from
FeMet was greatest when given at 3 d compared to at birth. Based on hemoglobin concentrations at
21 d, relative bioavailability of Fe from FeMet given on d 3 was 180% compared to FeSO4. Iron
methionine given orally was a safe, effective source of Fe, but a single oral dose of FeMet was not
equivalent to injectable Fe. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.