Iron deficiency treatment includes which of the following iron formulations or dosing?

• A. Ferrous sulfate
• B. Ferrous fumarate
• C. Ferrous gluconate
• D. 150-200 mg elemental iron daily + vit C

Answer: (D)

The key idea is delivering enough usable iron each day and making sure it’s absorbed well. The different iron salts—ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate—are all effective, but the most important factor is the total amount of elemental iron you take and supporting absorption. The best choice specifies a clear daily amount of elemental iron (150–200 mg) and adds vitamin C to boost absorption. Vitamin C helps keep iron in the ferrous form and improves its uptake in the gut, so combining a substantial elemental-iron dose with vitamin C makes therapy more effective. Simply naming a salt doesn’t guarantee you’re getting enough iron or optimizing absorption, which is why the dosing with vitamin C is the best answer.