Methods and compositions for treating an iron disorder in a patient are presented, including methods for orally administering a recombinant yeast that produces H-ferritin-iron complex or the H-ferritin-iron complex extracted from the yeast. Data indicate that administration of the recombinant yeast more effectively increases hemoglobin, hematocrit and transferrin saturation than an iron-equivalent amount of FeSO4. A recombinant yeast expressing human H-ferritin or H-ferritin-iron complex is also presented.
