ferrous sulfate

Ferrous sulfate is a synthetic iron supplement used to treat iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia, when dietary sources are inadequate to maintain healthy levels of iron. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to all the tissues, and myoglobin, the muscle protein that stores oxygen and releases it to the muscle cells when oxygen saturation drops.

In addition to oxygen transport and storage, iron is essential for many cellular processes, synthesis of enzymes and hormones, DNA synthesis and repair, electron transport and energy metabolism. In general, women need more iron intake because of loss of iron with menstrual bleeding, and pregnant women often need iron supplements because their requirement goes up during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Dietary iron sources include

• lean meat,
• poultry,
• seafood,
• kidney beans,
• lentils,
• spinach,
• peas,
• nuts and
• certain fortified foods.