The formulation of Ferrosa was developed to support the physiological metabolism of iron, promote normal erythropoiesis, and contribute to the prevention and nutritional treatment of conditions associated with iron deficiency, such as iron-deficiency anemia, increased requirements (pregnancy, sports activity, growth), reduced dietary intake (vegetarian and vegan diets), and increased blood loss.
The synergy between liposomal iron, liposomal vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin A (β-carotene), vitamin K2, vitamin E, zinc, and selenium is supported by numerous experimental and clinical evidences.
The complete composition of the product includes liposomal iron, vitamin C, vitamin B12, zinc, vitamin E, vitamin K2, selenium, vitamin D3, β-carotene, vitamins B6, B2, B1, and folic acid.
Liposomal iron and iron-deficiency anemia
• Camaschella C. Iron Deficiency. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:1832-1843.
• Tolkien Z, Stecher L, Mander AP, Pereira DIA, Powell JJ. Ferrous sulfate supplementation causes significant gastrointestinal side-effects in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0117383.
• Muñoz M, Villar I, García-Erce JA. An update on iron physiology. World J Gastroenterol. 2009;15:4617-4626.
• Stoffel NU, Zeder C, Brittenham G, et al. Iron absorption from supplements is greater with alternate day dosing than with consecutive daily dosing. Lancet Haematology. 2017.
• Moretti D, Goede JS, Zeder C, et al. Oral iron supplements increase hepcidin and decrease iron absorption from daily doses. Blood. 2015.
Liposomal vitamin C and iron bioavailability
• Lynch SR. Interaction of vitamin C and iron. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1980.
• Cook JD, Reddy MB. Effect of ascorbic acid intake on nonheme iron absorption. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001.
• Chambial S, Dwivedi S, et al. Vitamin C in Disease Prevention and Cure: An Overview. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2013.
• Jäger R, et al. Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes. European Journal of Nutrition. 2024.
• Moustarah F. Dietary Iron. StatPearls Publishing. 2024.
Vitamin B12, folates, and erythropoiesis
• Koury MJ, Ponka P. New insights into erythropoiesis: the roles of folate, vitamin B12 and iron. Annu Rev Nutr. 2004;24:105-131.
• Solmaz S, Özdoğu H, Boğa C. Cobalamin deficiency can mask depleted body iron reserves. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus. 2015.
• Song SM, et al. Combined vitamin B12 and iron deficiency anemia. Korean J Hematol. 2010.
• Allen LH. Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development (BOND): Vitamin B12 Review. Adv Nutr. 2018.
• Rogez J, et al. Iron deficiency in pernicious anemia. Clinical Nutrition. 2024.
Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and Folic Acid
• Fishman SM, Christian P, West KP Jr. The role of vitamins in the prevention and control of anaemia. Public Health Nutr. 2000.
• Koury MJ, Ponka P. New insights into erythropoiesis. Annu Rev Nutr. 2004.
• Allen LH. Causes of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Food Nutr Bull. 2008.
• Remacha AF, et al. Vitamin B12 metabolism during iron replacement therapy. Haematologica. 2015.
Vitamin D and iron metabolism
• Smith EM, Tangpricha V. High-dose vitamin D3 reduces circulating hepcidin concentrations: randomized placebo-controlled trial. Current Developments in Nutrition. 2016.
• Zughaier SM, Alvarez JA, Sloan JH, et al. The role of vitamin D in regulating the iron-hepcidin-ferroportin axis. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2014.
• Smith EM, Jones JL, Han JE, et al. Vitamin D deficiency and anemia: mechanisms and clinical implications. Nutrients. 2018.
• BEST-D Trial Investigators. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on markers of iron status and erythropoiesis. Br J Nutr. 2025.
• BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Maternal vitamin D supplementation and iron status. 2023.
β-carotene (provitamin A) and iron absorption
• García-Casal MN, Layrisse M, et al. Vitamin A and beta-carotene improve nonheme iron absorption. J Nutr. 1998.
• Layrisse M, García-Casal MN, et al. Effect of vitamin A and beta-carotene on phytate and polyphenol inhibition of iron absorption. Arch Latinoam Nutr. 2000.
• García-Casal MN, Leets I. Carotenoids improve iron uptake and ferritin synthesis by Caco-2 cells. J Food Sci. 2014.
• Gutowska K, Formanowicz D, Formanowicz P. Interrelations between iron and vitamin A. Int J Mol Sci. 2022.
• Mejia LA, Erdman JW Jr. Vitamin A deficiency, iron metabolism and anemia. Nutrition Reviews. 2025.
Zinc and iron metabolism
• Prasad AS. Zinc in Human Health. Adv Nutr. 2013.
• Hambidge KM, Krebs NF. Zinc deficiency: a special challenge. J Nutr. 2007.
• King JC, Brown KH, Gibson RS, et al. Biomarkers of Nutrition for Development: Zinc Review. J Nutr. 2016.
• Kambe T, Tsuji T, Hashimoto A, Itsumura N. The physiological, biochemical and molecular roles of zinc transporters. Physiol Rev. 2015.
Vitamin E, oxidative stress, and erythrocytes
• Brigelius-Flohé R, Traber MG. Vitamin E: function and metabolism. FASEB J. 1999.
• Traber MG. Vitamin E. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2007.
• Niki E. Role of vitamin E as a lipid-soluble antioxidant. Free Radic Biol Med. 2014.
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin E Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
Vitamin K2
• Shea MK, Booth SL. Concepts and controversies in evaluating vitamin K status. Adv Nutr. 2016.
• Beulens JWJ, Booth SL, et al. The role of menaquinones in human health. Br J Nutr. 2013.
• Mishima E, et al. Vitamin K prevents ferroptosis through FSP1-mediated pathway. Nature. 2022.
Selenium and protection against oxidative stress
• Rayman MP. Selenium and human health. Lancet. 2012.
• Vinceti M, Filippini T, et al. Selenium for preventing chronic disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018.
• Roman M, Jitaru P, Barbante C. Selenium biochemistry and its role for human health. Metallomics. 2014.
• NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Selenium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals.
Clinical evidence in the main conditions for which Ferrosa is indicated
The scientific literature supports the use of the nutrients present in Ferrosa in the main conditions characterized by increased requirements or reduced iron availability:
• iron-deficiency anemia and reduced hemoglobin;
• low ferritin and depleted iron stores;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding (as indicated by the doctor);
• women with heavy menstrual bleeding;
• vegetarian and vegan diets, in which non-heme iron has lower bioavailability;
• endurance athletes with increased erythrocyte turnover;
• elderly people with reduced dietary intake;
• chronic inflammatory states characterized by increased hepcidin and reduced iron availability;
• nutritional support in patients with hypothyroidism associated with iron deficiency, given the role of iron as a cofactor of thyroid peroxidase (TPO).
Further supporting bibliography
Lynch, S. R. (1980). Interaction of vitamin C and iron. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. [Demonstration of the essential role of ascorbate in reducing iron to a soluble and absorbable state].
Cook, J. D., et al. (2001). Effect of ascorbic acid intake on nonheme-iron absorption. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. [Clinical study on the mechanisms of overcoming the inhibitory bonds of phytates thanks to the synergistic presence of Vitamin C].
Solmaz, S., Özdoğu, H., & Boğa, C. (2014). Cobalamin Deficiency Can Mask Depleted Body Iron Reserves. PMC. [Clinical analysis of the close connection between Vitamin B12 and erythropoiesis, highlighting how the correction of B12 reveals latent iron deficiencies].
Jäger, R., et al. (2024). Liposomal delivery enhances absorption of vitamin C into plasma and leukocytes. European Journal of Nutrition. [Recent clinical study validating the superior bioavailability and increased area under the curve (AUC) of Vitamin C in liposomal form compared to the standard formulation].
MDPI Nutrients (2024). Liposomal Mineral Absorption: A Randomized Crossover Trial. [Comparative study highlighting the superior efficacy and drastic reduction of gastrointestinal side effects of liposomal mineral formulations].
Rogez, J., et al. (2024). Iron deficiency in pernicious anemia: Specific features of iron deficient patients. Clinical Nutrition. [Recent study on the coexistence and differential diagnosis of combined iron and vitamin deficiency anemias].