Table 1.

Ligand [2], molecular weight [3], plasma half time [3] and rate of labile iron of compounds used for parenteral iron preparations.

Preparation	Ligand Description [2]	Molecular Weight (kD) [3]	Plasma Half Time (Hours) [3]	Labile Iron (% of Injected Dose) [3]
Second-generation iron products
Iron sucrose	Disaccharide	30–60	6	3.5
Dextran (low-molecular-weight iron dextran)	Polysaccharide, maltose units 1→6-linked	165	20	2
Iron gluconate	Carboxylic acid and disaccharide	289–440	1	3.3
Third-generation iron products
Ferric carboxymaltose	Polysaccharide, maltose units 1→4-linked	150	16	0.6
Ferumoxytol	Polysaccharide, maltose units 1→6-linked, hydrogenated and carboxymethylated	750	15	0.8
Iron isomaltoside	Oligosaccharide, maltose units 1→6-linked, hydrogenated and carboxylic acid	150	20	1