Intestinal absorption of iron from 59Fe-labelled hexacyanoferrates(II) in piglets

The intestinal absorption of 59Fe and 14C from hexacyanoferrates(II) was studied in piglets. KFeIII[FeII (CN)6] (I) and FeIII4[FeII(CN)6]3 (II) were labelled with 59Fe both in the Fe(III)-position (outside the complex anion, a) or in the Fe(II)-position (hexacyanoferrate anion, b). Labelling of the Fe(III)-position resulted in a 59Fe-absorption of 1.47% (Ia) and 1.34% (IIa), as judged by the 59Fe whole-body-retention measurement 14 days after oral administration. Even smaller amounts, 0.20% from Ib or 0.15% from IIb of the 59Fe-dose were absorbed and retained from the hexacyanoferrates(II) labelled in the Fe(II)-position. No 14CO2 was detected in the expired air of piglets after oral application of Fe4[59Fe(14CN)6]3, indicating that the amount of incorporated free cyanide ions can only be extremely small or even nil.