Iron tablets are among the most prescribed nutrition products in India, and many now combine iron with folate, vitamin C and B vitamins in one strip. For doctors, chemists and distributors, the useful questions are what each ingredient is, how the forms differ, what the evidence shows, and which safety points matter.
This guide uses OPTIHEME, a health supplement (haematinic) in Aerochem Neutron's Gynac range, as a worked example. It covers all five ingredients equally. This is general information for healthcare professionals and trade partners, not medical advice. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
What is in OPTIHEME
Per chewable tablet, as listed on the product page:
| Ingredient | Per tablet |
|---|---|
| Liposomal Ferric Pyrophosphate (eq. to elemental iron) | 29 mg |
| Quatrefolic (L-methylfolate) | 200 mcg |
| Vitamin C | 50 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 75 mcg |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxal-5-phosphate, P5P) | 0.5 mg |
Dosage form: chewable tablets. Pack size: 30 tablets. The listing describes OPTIHEME as a health supplement. Use as directed on the label or by a healthcare professional.
Liposomal Ferric Pyrophosphate (29 mg elemental iron)
What it is. Iron is an essential mineral needed to make haemoglobin and myoglobin, and for many enzymes (NIH ODS, Iron). Ferric pyrophosphate is an iron(III) salt used in oral products and fortification. "Liposomal" means the iron is enclosed in a lipid layer; related encapsulated oral iron forms (including sucrosomial iron) are studied as alternatives when conventional ferrous salts cause gastrointestinal upset. This article does not claim that this tablet is better tolerated or more effective than other iron products.
Who may have low iron. Women of reproductive age (menstrual blood loss), pregnant women, people with low dietary iron intake, people with blood loss or malabsorption, and some infants and adolescents (NIH ODS).
What the evidence shows. Oral iron is a standard approach to iron deficiency when medical assessment confirms it is needed. Different salts and delivery systems vary in elemental iron content and side-effect profiles; head-to-head evidence for liposomal ferric pyrophosphate specifically should be requested from the company before quoting comparative claims.
Safety. Keep all iron-containing products out of reach of children; accidental overdose is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in young children. Common side effects of oral iron include constipation, nausea and dark stools. Iron can reduce absorption of levothyroxine, some antibiotics and bisphosphonates; separate the doses as advised. People with haemochromatosis or other iron-overload states should not take iron supplements without medical advice (NIH ODS).
Quatrefolic (L-methylfolate, 200 mcg)
What it is. Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9; folic acid is the synthetic form used in many supplements and fortified foods. L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-methylfolate) is the main circulating active form of folate. Quatrefolic is a branded L-methylfolate ingredient named on the product label (Pietrzik et al., 2010; Scaglione and Panzavolta, 2014).
Role. Folate is needed for DNA synthesis and for converting homocysteine to methionine. Inadequate folate in early pregnancy increases the risk of neural tube defects, which is why peri-conception folic acid is widely recommended (NIH ODS, Folate).
Form note. Folic acid and L-methylfolate are not identical compounds. People with reduced MTHFR enzyme activity convert folic acid to the active form less efficiently; whether that matters clinically for routine supplementation is still debated, and this article makes no product claim on that point (Scaglione and Panzavolta, 2014).
Safety. Folate is water-soluble and generally well tolerated at nutritional doses. High folate intake can mask the haematological signs of vitamin B12 deficiency while neurological damage continues, so B12 status matters when folate is given (NIH ODS).
Vitamin C (50 mg)
What it is. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential antioxidant vitamin and a cofactor for collagen synthesis (NIH ODS, Vitamin C).
Role with iron. Ascorbic acid improves absorption of non-haem iron from the gut. That is why many haematinic formulas include vitamin C alongside iron (NIH ODS, Iron).
Dose context. The adult RDA in the US is 75 to 90 mg/day. 50 mg is a nutritional amount, well below the 2,000 mg/day upper limit (NIH ODS, Vitamin C).
Safety. High doses can cause gastrointestinal upset and, rarely, kidney stones in susceptible people. At 50 mg, those risks are not expected.
Vitamin B12 (75 mcg)
What it is. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is needed for red blood cell formation, neurological function and DNA synthesis (NIH ODS, Vitamin B12).
Who may have low levels. Strict vegetarians and vegans (little dietary B12), older adults with reduced absorption, people with pernicious anaemia or after certain gut surgeries, and long-term metformin or acid-suppressing drug users (NIH ODS).
What the evidence shows. B12 deficiency can cause megaloblastic anaemia and irreversible nerve damage if untreated. Oral and injected forms are used depending on the cause. 75 mcg is above the adult RDA of 2.4 mcg and is a common supplemental amount; it does not replace diagnosis of deficiency.
Safety. B12 has low toxicity; no upper limit has been set in the US because of low risk at usual intakes (NIH ODS). For another B12-containing product in the Aerochem range, see our guide to CoQ10, L-carnitine, magnesium and methylcobalamin.
Vitamin B6 as P5P (0.5 mg)
What it is. Vitamin B6 exists as several forms; pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P) is the active coenzyme form involved in amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis (NIH ODS, Vitamin B6).
Dose context. The adult RDA is about 1.3 to 1.7 mg. 0.5 mg is a small nutritional amount, well below doses linked to sensory neuropathy (typically long-term intakes above 100 mg/day) (NIH ODS).
Safety. At this dose, B6-related neuropathy is not a practical concern. People taking high-dose B6 from other products should still add up total intake.
Putting the five together: rationale, not proof
The combination pairs elemental iron with folate and B12 (both involved in blood cell formation), vitamin C (involved in non-haem iron absorption), and a small amount of active B6. That is a nutritional rationale for a haematinic-style supplement. It is not evidence that this chewable tablet corrects anaemia or is better tolerated than other iron products, and no clinical trial of this specific formulation is cited here.
Safety checklist for prescribers and chemists
- Children: iron overdose is dangerous; keep out of reach.
- Confirmed need: iron supplements should follow clinical assessment, not routine self-medication.
- Drug interactions: separate iron from levothyroxine, tetracyclines, quinolones and bisphosphonates as advised.
- Folate and B12: do not let folate supplementation delay diagnosis of B12 deficiency.
- Pregnancy and lactation: seek medical advice; dosing and monitoring are clinical decisions.
- Iron overload: avoid unsupervised use in haemochromatosis or similar conditions.
Why this matters for distributors
Haematinics are a core gynaecology and general-practice segment, and doctors increasingly ask about elemental iron amount, salt type, folate form and tolerability. Distributors who can answer accurately, without overclaiming, build more trust. Before adding a product, use our PCD franchise due diligence checklist, and plan margins with the PTR/PTS calculator and scheme calculator.
Promoting it responsibly
Promotion to healthcare professionals should follow the Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) 2024, as amended on 1 September 2025 (Department of Pharmaceuticals). Keep claims accurate, balanced and supported. A health supplement should not be promoted as a cure for anaemia or as a substitute for medical treatment.
About Aerochem Neutron
Aerochem Neutron markets a portfolio of more than 250 formulations across therapeutic segments. Production is coordinated through eligible partner facilities. Learn more about our PCD pharma franchise programme.
Frequently asked questions
What is in OPTIHEME?
Per chewable tablet: liposomal ferric pyrophosphate providing 29 mg elemental iron, Quatrefolic (L-methylfolate) 200 mcg, vitamin C 50 mg, vitamin B12 75 mcg and vitamin B6 (P5P) 0.5 mg.
Is OPTIHEME a medicine?
The product page lists it as a health supplement (haematinic). It is not a substitute for medical treatment of anaemia.
Why include vitamin C with iron?
Vitamin C improves absorption of non-haem iron from the gut.
What is Quatrefolic?
A branded form of L-methylfolate, the active circulating form of folate. It is not the same compound as folic acid.
Who should be careful with iron supplements?
Children (overdose risk), people with iron overload, those on interacting medicines, and anyone without a confirmed need for extra iron.
Is OPTIHEME available for PCD franchise in my district?
Territory availability depends on existing partners. Use the button below to check your area.
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Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Folate: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B12: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB12-HealthProfessional/
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin B6: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
- Pietrzik K, Bailey L, Shane B. Folic acid and L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate: comparison of clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Clin Pharmacokinet 2010. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20608755/
- Scaglione F, Panzavolta G. Folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing. Xenobiotica 2014. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24494987/
- Department of Pharmaceuticals. Uniform Code for Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices 2024, consolidated text updated as on 1.9.2025. https://ucmp.pharma-dept.gov.in/Pharma/UCPMP%202024%20for%20website_0.pdf
