In order to reduce gastric irritation in the stomach of iron preparations, ferroglycine fumarate (FGF) granules coated with hydroxyethylcellulose was made by matrix granulator, and the constrained optimization method, employing the Lagrange equation, was successfully applied to the manufacturing process design of controlled release tablets. The effects of stearic acid and dried corn starch on tablet hardness, friability, dissolution rate $t_{50%}$ and tablet volume were found to be very significant. In rabbit test, pharmacokinetic parameters $(K_a,;C_{max};and;AUC^{0-12})$ and urinary excretion rate $(K_e)$ of the controlled release FGF tablets were higher than those of controlled release ferroglycine sulfate tablets which were manufactured in the same optimal conditions. Controlled release FGF tablets were more stable than controlled release ferroglycine sulfate tablets in accelerated storage conditions.