Ferric maltol is a novel ferric iron compound with potential use as an oral therapy for iron deficiency anaemia. Using a single, low dose iron absorption test we compared absorption of ferric maltol with absorption of ferrous sulphate in 21 iron deficient subjects. Absorption of 10 mg of ferric maltol as either aqueous solution or a single tablet compared favourably with that of an equivalent dose of ferrous sulphate. At a higher, more therapeutic dose of 60 mg elemental iron as tablets, absorption of ferric maltol appeared to be both more rapid and total absorption greater, than that seen with ferrous sulphate. We conclude that iron from ferric maltol, both at low dose and higher, more therapeutic doses, is at least as well absorbed as from ferrous sulphate. Ferric maltol is the first ferric iron formulation to be absorbed to a degree equivalent to that of ferrous iron salts and may represent a viable form of administration for ferric iron in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia.