Mono ferrous acid citrate (FeC6O7H2O) as an iron fortificant

1. Iron absorption from ferrous citrate (monoferrous acid citrate, FeC6H6O7H2O) was studied in normal healthy male and female volunteers using ferrous citrate labelled with radioactive Fe and whole-body counting. Ferrous citrate was either given alone or with a rice-based meal. 2. Fe absorption from ferrous citrate was satisfactory and was comparable to that from ferrous sulphate. 3. Fortification of crude cooking salt with ferrous citrate was not satisfactory due to colour development on storage. Ferrous citrate can, however, serve as an effective Fe fortificant with sugar or wheat flour.