Heme iron therapy is basically unknown outside of Scandinavia, where heme iron has been used in tablet form in several preparations for over twenty years with millions of users. No serious adverse reactions have been recorded. Heme iron is safe and far better tolerated and more effective than other forms of iron.   Pure hemoglobin powder from animal sources as raw material for iron substitution has been of interest in Sweden since the seventies. During the years the raw material has been developed and used in a number of products, of which OmniFer® and OptiFer® tablets are the most recent. The main raw material for these tablets is pharmaceutical grade hemoglobin powder from exclusively Swedish beef livestock.   In the litterature both mechanisms for iron uptake are well documented. The special pathway through which heme iron is being absorbed has great benefits. Since the undivided hemoglobin molecule is absorbed as a whole no free iron ions are released in the intestine to trigger disturbancies. This is believed to be the reason for the all-too-common side effects associated with other forms of iron supplementation. Heme iron has a very stable uptake regardless of clinical situation and previously ingested medication and other foodstuff or drink.   OmniFer® and OptiFer® tablets are unique in that they naturally have an ideal slow release mechanism in themselves since the protein complex dissolves very slowly. This gives a much-wanted steady and slow release of iron for an optimal intake and extremely low side effect risk. There is a utilization of both pathways for iron.