Ferrous Gluconate Uses

Ferrous gluconate tablets are used to treat or prevent iron deficiency anemia (low red blood cell count).

There may be other uses of ferrous gluconate—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further information.

Ferrous Gluconate Mechanism of Action

Ferrous gluconate raises the levels of iron in the body. Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia (low red blood cell count). The body needs iron to make healthy red blood cells, hemoglobin (hemoglobin carries oxygen to all the cells in the body), and myoglobin (myoglobin helps muscle cells store oxygen). Iron is also necessary for a healthy immune system.

Ferrous Gluconate Doses

Ferrous gluconate is available in tablet and liquid form. Each ferrous gluconate tablet contains 324 mg of ferrous gluconate (equivalent to 38 mg of elemental iron) or 240 mg of ferrous gluconate (equivalent to 27 mg of elemental iron). The 324 mg tablet provides approximately 211% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of iron for adults and children 4 years of age and older. The recommended dose for adults is one tablet 3-4 times a day for treatment of low iron. Check with a doctor or nutrition counselor for the appropriate dose for your child.

Other salts of iron are also available as dietary supplements, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, and polysaccharide iron. Take only the type of iron your doctor recommends because the dose and absorption of the different types vary. 

For treatment of iron deficiency anemia, the recommended dose is 60 mg of elemental iron every 6-12 hours. For prevention of iron deficiency anemia, the recommended dose is 60 mg of elemental iron daily.

Some clinical studies have found that the body can absorb ferrous gluconate liquid better than ferrous sulfate tablets. However, ferrous gluconate contains less elemental iron than ferrous sulfate, so a larger dose is needed to correct an iron deficiency.