There are two forms of iron that the body can use: heme iron from meat sources, and non-heme iron from plants and supplements. Heme iron from meat is absorbed more efficiently by the body, while absorption of non-heme iron is affected by other foods and can cause side effects. Supplements containing heme iron derived from bovine hemoglobin are absorbed as efficiently as heme iron from meat, can be taken long-term without decreased efficacy or increased side effects, and are a good alternative for those who have difficulty with regular iron supplements.

1. IMPORTANT FACTS YOU NEED
TO KNOW ABOUT HEME IRON

2. Only two kinds of dietary iron usable
There are only two forms of bio-available iron
• Natural heme iron from meat products
Iron bound to
natural hemoglobin or myoglobin
• Non-heme iron from plants, dairy and
syntethic iron supplements
Otherwise chemically bonded iron

3. Heme iron is 100 % natural,
not syntethic.
There are only two kinds of iron that we can use; heme
iron from meat, poultry or fish and non-heme iron from
vegetables, dairy products or chemically bonded iron in
the regular supplements.
All regular supplements are syntethic. They feauture
chemically bonded iron such as Ferrous Sulphate.
Heme iron supplements are made with natural bovine
hemoglobin.

4. There are two pathways for dietary iron. Heme iron, which is
found in all meat products, is absorbed efficiently and neatly
as a whole unit.
The other kind is simply non-heme iron and has to be
broken down in the gut before the iron can be absorbed.
Most of the highly reactive free iron ions remains in the gut
and cause side-effects such as constipation, diarrhoea and
stomach cramps.
The uptake of non-heme iron is also affected by other foods
consumed.
Heme iron in meat courses is the
most important source of iron

5. Heme iron is natural for man and still is the best and most
efficient way of absorbing the iron we all need to live and for
our bodies to function properly.
In a normal diet heme iron from meat products play a large
role.
The regular iron supplements today are syntethic and often
produce gastro-intestinal side-effects which in many cases
terminate the important therapy
Heme iron uptake is five times more
efficient than non-heme iron

6. In studies the incidence of side-effects with heme
iron products is at placebo level.
The mechanism of uptake for heme iron does not
leave free iron ions in the gut that may cause
disturbancies and are potentially carcinogenous.
No known side effects, tolerance on
placebo-level

7. Pure hemolyzed hemoglobin powder derivated from
the food industry as raw material for iron substitution
has been of interest in Sweden since the early
seventies, as this is by far the best-tolerated and
efficient form of iron.
Over the years the raw material has been developed
and used in a number of products.
Large scale usage since over 20 years

8. Bovine and porcine hemoglobin in food supplement
tablets have been in use in Scandinavia since the
1970-ies with no serious side effects ever reported
and no cases of poisoning in literally millions of
users.
Efficacy is good and there is an extremely good
record of tolerance.
No serious side effects or cases of
poisoning ever reported

9. Unlike non-heme iron, absorption is not affected by
other chelating components of the diet such as
phytates, tannates and phosphate.
Heme iron will always be absorbed
- in all clinical situations.
Heme iron is absorbed from the beginning of the
intestine, which means it will work also for patients,
who have had gut surgery
Heme iron will always be absorbed,
in any clinical situation

10. Heme iron normally only forms a part of daily
dietary intake, but is more readily absorbed than
non-heme iron.
Unlike non-heme iron, absorption is not affected by
other components of the diet.
Other food, drink or medication will
not affect uptake

11. The uptake and tolerance of heme iron will not
change even over a longer time period.
This is good news for the chronics, since non-heme
iron will usually give problems with uptake sooner
or later, which means another form of therapy must
be considered.
Efficacy and tolerance over time

12. There is a large number of chronics in various diseases with
anaemia, These are for instance Chronic kidney disease,
Inflammatory bowel disease or Coronary heart disease.
Chronics usually receive regular syntethic oral non-heme tablets
in high doses until treatment fails due to side-effects.
The remaining alternative is very expensive and inconvenient
intravenous iron. There are potential risks with repeated iron
injections over a longer perod of time: overdosing and
increased oxidative stress
Heme iron can be taken over long time,
ideal for chronics

13. The OptiFer® series of iron food supplements are
safe, efficient and very well tolerated, which is crucial
for therapy success.
They give an optimal dose and can be used over
longer periods with no change in efficacy and
tolerance.
OptiFer® products compete favorably
with the regular synthetic supplements.
SOLUTION

14. Swedish company FerroCare/MediTec has a
strong commitment to reach people
suffering from iron deficiency, but have
problems with existing supplements.

15. OptiFer® tablets are based on natural bovine
heme iron and will safely and efficiently keep
iron counts at an optimal level
www.ferrocare.se www.hemeiron.com
www.ferrocare.se www.hemeiron.com