A nano-disperse ferritin-core mimetic that efficiently corrects anemia without luminal iron redox activity

Gastrointestinal adverse effects of soluble iron supplements due to redox cycling constitute a major barrier to treatment of iron deficiency anaemia. We show synthesis and characterization of nano-disperse, destructured iron hydroxides that mimic how the gut digests normal dietary ferric iron (i.e. non-heme iron). These structures are bioavailable in vivo without any requirement for prior luminal or mucosal reduction. This is a vital first step to providing cheap, safe and effective oral iron to combat the world's commonest nutrient deficiency, namely iron deficiency anemia.118