Several ferrous salts of iron (ascorbate, aspartate, citrate, chloride, fumarate, gluconate, lactate, oxalate, succinate, sulfate, glycine sulfate, etc.) are used in oral administration for treating or preventing iron deficiency anemia.Its molecular weight varies from 170 for the fumarate and succinate, and from 280 for lactate and sulfate to 400 for aspartate and ascorbate. Characteristics of iron metabolism in the body make unlikely that it would be excreted in a significant amount into breast milk.It is a medication used for treatment of Neonatal Anemia in premature babies. Iron is excreted in small amounts in human milk, usually being enough for covering the daily needs of infants due to its high bioavailability. There is no correlation between mother's daily intake of iron and its concentration in breast milk.Iron supplementation to the mother does not increase levels of iron in breast milk or infant plasma significantly. Excessive supplementation can reduce the zinc concentration in milk. WHO List of Essential Medicines 2002: compatible with breastfeeding.