The dietary supplement E579 or ferrous gluconate has been the subject of medical controversy for many years. Some argued that without this substance anemia can develop, since it is directly involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin. Their opponents pointed out that an excess of iron in the body has a very negative effect on the functioning of many internal organs and systems, in particular the heart.
Following medical research, ferrous gluconate was included in the list of approved food additives. The substance is used in food production as a color stabilizer. Today, no one doubts the safety of using this food concentrate - the additive is officially recognized not only as safe, but also useful. And it is iron gluconate that is prescribed by doctors to patients with developing anemia.
Method of obtaining
To obtain a stabilizer, a chemical reaction is carried out, the reagents of which are ferrous sulfate and barium gluconate. The resulting substance has pronounced stabilizer and emulsifier properties.
Depending on the characteristics of the production of iron gluconate, it may also be genetically modified. But in most cases, food manufacturers use a chemical additive.
Outwardly, it is a crumbly powder, sometimes with fairly large fragments. The color of the substance is yellow with a gray or green tint. Iron gluconate has no taste. The aroma is faint, reminiscent of the smell of burnt. The powder dissolves well in ordinary water, but solubility in low.
For packaging, any types of containers suitable for bulk products are used - multi-layer kraft bags; bags made of polypropylene material; cardboard-winding drums. During storage, contact of E579 with water should be avoided, since the substance has high absorbent properties.
Properties of matter
You should know that the E579 additive is not a dye - this substance only stabilizes the color, preventing its changes.
But most often in production, iron gluconate is used as an emulsifier. If the manufacturer violates the manufacturing technology and more E579 is added to the finished product, then the food product will acquire a not entirely pleasant aroma of burnt sugar.
It is important to note that doctors do not set strict standards for the consumption of this dietary supplement, since it is not dangerous to the body. And the inclusion of iron gluconate in finished products is insignificant, so under normal conditions it is almost impossible to exceed the concentration of iron in the body.
The value of E579 from a medical point of view is that this form of iron is the most suitable for absorption by the body. The pharmaceutical preparation iron gluconate is essentially no different from a food concentrate. Only in pharmacies it comes in the form of syrups or tablets.
The nutritional value
Iron gluconate is a food concentrate that not only does not cause harm to the human body, but is also beneficial to health. The supplement replenishes the optimal balance of iron in the body, which is the key to the normal process of hematopoiesis. If the body produces insufficient hemoglobin, there is an insufficient supply of oxygen to all internal organs. Lack of oxygen can cause the development of many serious pathologies.
Today, all countries have recognized the E579 additive as absolutely safe for human health. Its use in food production is permitted; the daily dose is not limited.
Applications in areas
Iron gluconate is actively used in many industries:
- food industry - as a stabilizer and emulsifier;
- pharmacology – in the production of drugs aimed at replenishing iron deficiency in the human body;
- cosmetology – in the creation of therapeutic, restorative and preventive cosmetics.
Iron gluconate is used as a color stabilizer for preservation. At the same time, when preserving this product, dyes are not used at all - the main purpose of using E579 is to preserve the color attractive to the consumer.
Fresh olives cannot be called appetizing - the berries are a little wrinkled, the color is not uniform. As for the taste, it is generally impossible to eat them raw due to the bitterness due to the presence of okuropein in the glycoside.
Previously, producers were forced to prepare pickled olives using a very time-consuming and expensive technology, according to which the fruits were soaked and fermented in a saturated saline solution for a whole year. Today, the process of combating bitterness has been shortened to a few days, and the saline solution has been replaced with sodium hydroxide. But the following problem arises - during oxidation, olives darken, losing their attractiveness. It became possible to preserve a pleasant green or rich color thanks to the use of color stabilizer E579.
Effect on the body
The substance iron gluconate, entering the body, is immediately absorbed by the intestinal walls, and the beneficial element enters directly into the blood. In the quantity in which E579 is used in food production, the product is absolutely safe and does not pose hidden health risks.
With a lack of iron in the body, a person feels lethargic and tired. When the deficiency of a useful microelement increases, anemia develops. In this case, the patient is advised to take medications made on the basis of the E579 food additive.
But iron gluconate also has contraindications and restrictions on its use. Some people suffer from intolerance to this substance - this category of consumers should carefully study the composition of the food products they purchase and refuse to purchase those that contain E579.
It should be noted that manufacturers always honestly indicate the presence of this stabilizer or emulsifier in their products.
People who have serious gastrointestinal, kidney, or liver disease should minimize their intake of ferrous gluconate. The same restriction applies to people with bronchial asthma.
This food additive itself is absolutely harmless; problems can arise only if consumption standards are significantly exceeded. Therefore, if you are taking medications containing iron, you should control the amount of consumption of products with the E579 additive.
"They often sell olives that have been turned black with ferrous gluconate. Why is such a product dangerous for our health? And why do we unknowingly sometimes pay exorbitant prices for an unsafe product? It's time to find the differences.
Fake jar of olives
An examination of the olives, packaged in tin cans, was carried out by the Society for the Protection of Consumer Rights (OPPP) "Public Control". All major chains of the capital purchased products from such popular brands as Corrado, SolNegro, OroNegro, Iberica, MaestrodeOliva, GlobalVillage, ITLV, and Perekrestok. As a result, it was revealed that 90% of cans of olives contain artificially blackened olives instead of a natural product.
As Elena Rakhmanova, an expert at the OPP "Public Control", said, in order to give green olives a black color, they are soaked in alkali, then passed through oxygen and, finally, iron gluconate is added. According to her, if you throw green olives into the brine from such a fake jar of olives, then after three hours they will darken.
And there is only iron
Olives are the ripe fruit of the olive tree. Fruits picked when they are not ripe are usually called “olives.” Therefore, olives, unlike olives, contain a number of useful amino acids and vitamins. Only they contain a third more fatty acids, and 2.5 times higher. Accordingly, olives are more expensive: the price of one jar is 300-400 rubles, and the price of olives is 60-70.
“Olives already have fewer useful substances, and after chemical treatment to give them a black color, only iron gluconate is present,” says Elena Rakhmanova. In addition, in one can of olives the content of this substance reaches 22.5 milligrams. While the daily norm for a person is 10 milligrams. It turns out that after eating just one can of fake olives, a person will already receive an excess of iron.
As noted by the rector of the Moscow State University of Food Production, Dmitry Edelev, iron gluconate is a fairly strong irritant of the gastrointestinal tract, and an overdose can lead to damage to the liver, heart or kidneys. This substance is contraindicated in diseases such as gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Read the labels carefully!
First of all, Elena Rakhmanova advises reading labels carefully. By law, manufacturers are required to indicate the composition of the product. If a jar of olives contains iron gluconate as an ingredient, then it obviously contains blackened olives. The difference can be seen even at the price level: banks that do not have the “gluconate” item on them are an order of magnitude more expensive. You should also pay attention to the appearance of the olives. The counterfeit jars contain olives that are deep black in color and have a shiny surface. “Real olives cannot be like this. They have brown, purple shades, they have uneven coloring,” sums up Rakhmanova (based on materials from the site extra-n.ru).
Iron is an essential element in the human body. Its deficiency or excess can become a serious problem. If you have anemia (lack of iron), it can be easily replenished with various foods and medications. Usually, for this disease, the doctor prescribes iron gluconate dihydrate.
What kind of medicines are these?
All medications for the treatment and prevention of anemia have a minimum set of active substances. The basis is always glucogate; they are produced in the form of tablets or syrup; they have different dosages of gluconate. Some are intended to avoid iron deficiency, some for treatment.
Popular drug
One of the most common and popular iron-containing preparations is Iron gluconate 300. These are three hundred milligram tablets, coated for ease of use. Take this medicine by mouth (orally). The drug is prescribed to everyone who has been diagnosed with iron deficiency, but not only. Iron gluconate is necessary for the prevention of anemia during pregnancy, after childbirth and during breastfeeding. This substance must also be taken if you have undergone surgery, have burns, or ulcers on the skin. After blood loss (donation or bleeding), iron gluconate must be taken to replenish iron in the blood. The formula of the drug is: C 12 H 22 FeO 14 * 2 (H 2 O).
How to determine iron deficiency in the blood?
This deficiency is determined in laboratory conditions. To find out if you are predisposed to anemia, donate blood for a general test. This test is performed from blood taken from a finger prick. It is carried out quickly, you can get results on the same day or the next.
Iron plays an important role, you can determine it yourself. If you often feel dizzy, have dark vision and fainting, then this may be a sign of a deficiency of a substance such as iron. But you shouldn’t decide for yourself that this is definitely anemia. Such symptoms may indicate fatigue and lack of sleep, or other diseases. See your doctor.
If you cut yourself and the bleeding does not stop for a long time, then this is a sign that it is time to visit a specialist. Light color of blood, if it is liquid and the wound does not heal well, is a sign of iron deficiency.
Who is contraindicated for iron supplements?
People who have an excess of iron should not take iron gluconate. In the first trimester of pregnancy, special indications are needed for taking this drug. Elderly people should not take gluconate. For stomach diseases (ulcers, colitis), if there is an exacerbation of duodenal ulcers and enteritis, then it is prohibited to take such drugs. Hemosiderosis, hemochromatosis, blood transfusions, individual intolerance and hypersensitivity to the components of the drug are also contraindications to the use of ferrous gluconate.
Side effects of ferrous gluconate
In case of overdose or improper use, unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, and abdominal pain (stomach and intestines) may appear. In some cases, the occurrence of anorexia is associated with taking iron supplements. An allergy to the drug may occur. It manifests itself as rashes, redness on the skin, and itching. The most common side effect is the appearance of “black” stools. Such stool can occur even from foods that contain a high concentration of iron.
To avoid unpleasant side effects, carefully read the instructions for use and follow the advice of your doctor. If you have any contraindications to the use of ferrous gluconate, then it is better not to take this drug.
Ferrous gluconate: instructions
The tablets are taken orally and must be washed down. Consume approximately one hour before meals.
Adults and expectant mothers (from the second trimester of pregnancy) are prescribed four, maximum six tablets per day. This is the dosage for treating anemia. For preventive purposes, you should take two tablets a day. The daily dose of the drug is designed for two or three applications.
Children are prescribed from the age of six. Up to the age of twelve, in the presence of anemia and its treatment, one tablet per day is prescribed. The maximum daily dose is three tablets. For prevention, take half a tablet once.
Treatment or prevention of iron deficiency is prescribed for no more than six months. The use of the drug in children under six years of age is not allowed. It is recommended to give iron gluconate in small dosages to infants. If the baby is premature, you can start taking it at two months. If full term, then from four.
Where else is ferrous gluconate used?
It is mainly used to treat anemia. But iron gluconate is used not only for medicinal purposes. Calcium gluconate preparations are prescribed to replenish calcium in the body. But these drugs are poorly absorbed, so they are prescribed in combination with iron-containing drugs. Iron helps calcium to be absorbed more efficiently and quickly, delivering it to its “destination.”
Ferrous nitrate gluconate is used as an additive in organic and chemical fertilizers. This is a plant-safe component. According to reviews from gardeners and ordinary lovers of indoor plants, this component in the fertilizer promotes the favorable growth of the plant itself, its flowers and fruits. The fruits of cultivated plants grow and ripen faster, and the yield increases significantly.
Iron gluconate is also used in the food industry as a dye. The simplest example is olives. Olives are harvested when ripe and have a dark, almost black color. Olives undergo special processing to become olives before being packed into jars. They are stained with iron gluconate; we are familiar with this dye by the abbreviation E579. If you see such a note on the product packaging, this will mean that the product is colored. This is done in order to give the delicacy a rich, bright color. Few people will look in the direction of pale sausage; bright, pink one looks much more appetizing. The same goes for many other products.
Is E579 harmful to humans?
At one time, a whole popular uprising arose against all kinds of food additives and dyes. They wrote in newspapers and showed on television that all products containing all sorts of E, U, Z are dangerous to health. They have a detrimental effect on digestion, cardiac activity, lead to obesity and other adversities. People stopped buying such products en masse, stores began to look unattractive, and manufacturers began to think about a different business.
After all this unrest, the state began an investigation into the validity of these rumors. All products containing unknown additives and designations came under suspicion, and iron gluconate did not pass the test. Harm to health has indeed been identified in many supplements; a list of them can be found on the Internet. Many of these additives are designated with the letter E. But the Ministry of Health did not find anything harmful in E-579, 576 and many other E. These additives and dyes were placed on the list of products that are not harmful to the health and human body as a whole.
“Ruddy” sausage, bright olives and other colored products reappeared on the shelves. Manufacturers have calmed down, and so have consumers. But do not forget that everything is useful in moderation. It is not recommended to include such foods every time you eat; they can cause exacerbation of ulcers, indigestion, and lead to diarrhea. The daily intake of such a dye should not be higher than prescribed; it is twenty grams. Exceeding this limit can lead to the so-called Chinese restaurant syndrome. These include redness of the facial skin, rapid heartbeat, and increased sweating.
What do they say about ferrous gluconate?
As the world is large, so is the diversity of human opinions about certain things. Many who had to undergo treatment for anemia with iron gluconate write that it really helped them. Doctors recommend it as the safest and most effective iron-containing drug. Some people disagree with such people; they write that these drugs are completely useless. They say that they are of no use; the iron content in the blood after such treatment remains the same. There are ardent opponents of the content of dyes and impurities in products; they prefer only home cooking. Many people don’t know anything about E579; they say that they don’t pay attention to the composition, but simply buy their favorite products. There are people who know about this dye, they write that they are loyal to it.
In our article today:
Manufacturers: Remedica Ltd-Minnex
Active ingredients
Iron gluconateDisease class
Iron-deficiency anemiaClinical and pharmacological group
Not indicated. See instructionsPharmacological action
Replenishes iron deficiencyAntianemic
Pharmacological group
Hematopoiesis stimulantsMacro- and microelements
Oral tablets Ferrous gluconate 300
Instructions for medical use of the drug
Release form
Pharmacodynamics of the drug
Pharmacokinetics of the drug
Use during pregnancy
Other special use cases
Contraindications for use
Side effects
Directions for use and doses
Overdose
Interactions with other drugs
Precautions for use
Special instructions for use
Storage conditions
Best before date
Indications for use
(prevention and treatment) caused by various reasons: bleeding (polymenorrhea, metrorrhagia, childbirth, and duodenal ulcers, surgical interventions, frequent nosebleeds, blood loss due to other diseases); increased need for Fe (pregnancy, lactation, intensive growth and donation, burns, hemodialysis); insufficient intake of Fe from food or impaired absorption (chronic diarrhea, achlorhydria, gastrectomy, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, enteritis, malabsorption syndrome)Release form
film-coated tablets 300 mg;Pharmacodynamics
An iron supplement replenishes its deficiency in the body and restores Hb. Iron gluconate promotes rapid restoration of hemoglobin in patients with iron deficiency anemia.Pharmacokinetics
Iron is absorbed primarily in the duodenum and upper jejunum. Iron gluconate is absorbed more easily than iron salts of inorganic origin. Absorption is more intense, the more pronounced the iron deficiency in the body. With a high content of calcium, phosphorus, phytic acid in food, and gastric secretory insufficiency, iron absorption is limited. In the blood, iron binds to the protein transferrin and in the form of ferrotransferrin is delivered to the depot - bone marrow, liver, spleen, where it is deposited in the form of ferritin and hemosiderin. Iron is excreted primarily through urine and sweat, and is partially excreted by the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.Use during pregnancy
During pregnancy, it is permissible only under strict indications (especially in the first trimester).Use for renal impairment
Renal failure increases the risk of iron accumulation.
Other special occasions at reception
May aggravate ulcerative and inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis.To avoid the risk of erythremia, care should be taken when transfusing blood.
Contraindications for use
Hypersensitivity (including to other iron preparations), period of blood transfusions, hemolytic anemia, hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, gastric and duodenal ulcers (exacerbation), enteritis, ulcerative colitis, old age.Side effects
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, epigastric pain, diarrhea (or constipation), “black” stool, neutropenia, allergic reactions.Directions for use and doses
Inside, 1 hour before meals. For adults (pregnant women, starting from the second trimester) for treatment - 4–6 tablets (1.2–1.8 g) per day in 2–3 doses; for prevention - 2 tablets (600 mg) per day.For treatment, children from 6 to 12 years old: 1–3 tablets per day; for prevention - in smaller doses.
Overdose
Symptoms: excessive fatigue or weakness, hyperthermia, paresthesia, pallor, cold sticky sweat, acrocyanosis, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea with blood, necrosis of the gastrointestinal mucosa, weak pulse, lethargy, decreased blood pressure, palpitations, seizures, coma. Signs of peripheral circulatory collapse appear within 30 minutes after administration; metabolic acidosis, convulsions, fever, leukocytosis, coma - within 12-24 hours; acute renal and hepatic necrosis - after 2-4 days.Treatment: it is necessary to rinse the stomach; in case of severe poisoning, deferoxamine is administered intravenously slowly: for children - 15 mg/hour, for adults - 5 mg/kg/hour (up to 80 mg/kg/day); for mild poisoning IM: children - 1 g every 4-6 hours, adults - 50 mg/kg (up to 4 g/day); symptomatic therapy. Hemodialysis is ineffective for removing iron, but can be used to accelerate the removal of the Fe-deferoxamine complex, and can also be prescribed for oligo- or anuria. Peritoneal dialysis is also possible.
Interactions with other drugs
Milk, antacids, tetracyclines reduce the absorption of iron, and ascorbic acid increases it (in a proportion greater than or equal to 200 mg per 30 mg of elemental iron). The latent period of the effect is prolonged by chloramphenicol.Precautions for use
Should not be prescribed for a period of more than 6 months. Use with extreme caution for gastric and duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, enteritis. Not recommended for children under 6 years of age.Special instructions for use
It is recommended to prescribe to premature newborns from 2 months, to full-term newborns - from 4 months.To avoid accidental iron poisoning, the drug should be kept out of the reach of children.
Storage conditions
List B: In a place protected from light, at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C.Best before date
60 monthsATX classification:
B Hematopoiesis and bloodB03 Antianemic drugs
B03A Iron preparations
B03AA Iron preparations (ferrous) for oral administration
Instructions for medical use of the drug
Description of pharmacological action
Indications for use
Iron deficiency anemia (prevention and treatment), caused by various reasons: bleeding (polymenorrhea, metrorrhagia, childbirth, hemorrhoids, gastric and duodenal ulcers, surgical interventions, frequent nosebleeds, blood loss due to other diseases); increased need for Fe (pregnancy, lactation, intensive growth and donation, burns, hemodialysis); insufficient intake of Fe from food or impaired absorption (chronic diarrhea, achlorhydria, gastrectomy, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, enteritis, malabsorption syndrome)
Release form
film-coated tablets 300 mg;
Pharmacodynamics
An iron supplement replenishes its deficiency in the body and restores Hb. Iron gluconate promotes rapid restoration of hemoglobin in patients with iron deficiency anemia.
Pharmacokinetics
Iron is absorbed primarily in the duodenum and upper jejunum. Iron gluconate is absorbed more easily than iron salts of inorganic origin. Absorption is more intense, the more pronounced the iron deficiency in the body. With a high content of calcium, phosphorus, phytic acid in food, and gastric secretory insufficiency, iron absorption is limited. In the blood, iron binds to the protein transferrin and in the form of ferrotransferrin is delivered to the depot - bone marrow, liver, spleen, where it is deposited in the form of ferritin and hemosiderin. Iron is excreted primarily through urine and sweat, and is partially excreted by the mucous membrane of the digestive tract.
Use during pregnancy
During pregnancy, it is permissible only under strict indications (especially in the first trimester).
Use for renal impairment
Renal failure increases the risk of iron accumulation.
Other special occasions at reception
May aggravate ulcerative and inflammatory bowel diseases, rheumatoid arthritis.
To avoid the risk of erythremia, care should be taken when transfusing blood.
Contraindications for use
Hypersensitivity (including to other iron preparations), period of blood transfusions, hemolytic anemia, hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, gastric and duodenal ulcers (exacerbation), enteritis, ulcerative colitis, old age.
Side effects
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, epigastric pain, diarrhea (or constipation), “black” stool, neutropenia, allergic reactions.
Directions for use and doses
Inside, 1 hour before meals. For adults (pregnant women, starting from the second trimester) for treatment - 4–6 tablets (1.2–1.8 g) per day in 2–3 doses; for prevention - 2 tablets (600 mg) per day.
For treatment, children from 6 to 12 years old: 1–3 tablets per day; for prevention - in smaller doses.
Overdose
Symptoms: excessive fatigue or weakness, hyperthermia, paresthesia, pallor, cold sticky sweat, acrocyanosis, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea with blood, necrosis of the gastrointestinal mucosa, weak pulse, lethargy, decreased blood pressure, palpitations, seizures, coma. Signs of peripheral circulatory collapse appear within 30 minutes after administration; metabolic acidosis, convulsions, fever, leukocytosis, coma - within 12-24 hours; acute renal and hepatic necrosis - after 2-4 days.
Treatment: it is necessary to rinse the stomach; in case of severe poisoning, deferoxamine is administered intravenously slowly: for children - 15 mg/hour, for adults - 5 mg/kg/hour (up to 80 mg/kg/day); for mild poisoning IM: children - 1 g every 4-6 hours, adults - 50 mg/kg (up to 4 g/day); symptomatic therapy. Hemodialysis is ineffective for removing iron, but can be used to accelerate the removal of the Fe-deferoxamine complex, and can also be prescribed for oligo- or anuria. Peritoneal dialysis is also possible.
Interactions with other drugs
Milk, antacids, tetracyclines reduce the absorption of iron, and ascorbic acid increases it (in a proportion greater than or equal to 200 mg per 30 mg of elemental iron). The latent period of the effect is prolonged by chloramphenicol.
Precautions for use
Should not be prescribed for a period of more than 6 months. Use with extreme caution for gastric and duodenal ulcers, ulcerative colitis, enteritis. Not recommended for children under 6 years of age.
Special instructions for use
Storage conditions
List B: In a place protected from light, at a temperature not exceeding 25 °C.
Best before date
ATX classification:
** The Drug Directory is intended for informational purposes only. For more complete information, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions. Do not self-medicate; Before starting to use the drug Iron gluconate 300, you should consult a doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information posted on the portal. Any information on the site does not replace medical advice and cannot serve as a guarantee of the positive effect of the drug.
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