Ferrous Ascorbate is a synthetic molecule of ascorbic acid and iron.

Ascorbic acid enhances absorption of iron. Ascorbic acid reduces ferric iron to ferrous iron which remains soluble even at neutral pH.

Ascorbate is a reducing agent and prevents Oxidation. Thus maintains Iron in highly soluble ferrous form.

Ferrous form is absorbed thrice as much as ferric form of iron.

Ferrous ascorbate has the advantage of providing both ferrous ion and ascorbate in the same compound.

There is no dissociation of Ferrous ascorbate on entering GI Tract due to the stable chelate of Iron with Ascorbate.

Also there is no action of food inhibitors as the complex does not dissociate.

There is  greater absorption of iron in vivo from ferrous ascorbate [Fe(HL)2] as compared with ferrous sulfate.

This is due to

a)Retardation or prevention of Ferrous oxidation by ascorbate and

b)The existence of Ferrous as a chelate with ascorbate.

The available literature demonstrates  that Ferrous ascorbate  { Fe(HL)2 } dissociates in aqueous solution into a monomeric cationic species Fe(HL)1+, Fe2+ and HL-.

The HL anion acts as a monodentate.

The low stability constant KFe(HL)1, about 20 l.mol-1 at mu = 0 and 25 degrees C, results in the conclusion that Fe(HL)2 is almost completely dissociated into Fe2+ and HL- at about pH = 5.

So complex formation does not contribute significantly to the increased iron absorption. Between pH = 6 and pH = 8 a solubility enhancing effect of ascorbate is observed which may be of relevance for the iron absorption from ferrous ascorbate.

Hence the stability of complex Ferrous Ascorbate contributes to the increased Iron Absorption.