mineral Minerals Oral

Iron

Essential for oxygen transport in blood and cellular energy production.

Sci.Ferrum (Fe) 12 mg as iron bisglycinate 42.5mg from polysaccharide iron complex 53 mg from polysaccharide iron complex 6 mg as iron aspartate albion ferric glycinate albion ferrochel as hip as polysaccharide iron complex bisglicinato {de ferroso} fe aspartate fe bis-glycinate fe bisglycinate {fe} glycinate fe glycinate ferractiv amino acid chelate ferractiv iron amino acid chelate ferric trisglycinate chelate ferrochel ferrochel aac ferrochel amino acid chelate ferrochel bisglycinate aac ferrochel bisglycinate amino acid chelate ferrochel bis-glycinate chelate ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate ferrochel ferrous bis-glycinate chelate ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate ferrochel iron amino acid chelate ferrochel iron bisblycinate ferrochel iron bis-glycinate ferrochel iron bisglycinate ferrochel(r) ferrochel(r) bisglycinate ferrochel(r) bisglycinate amino acid chelate ferrochel(r) ferrous bisglycinate ferrochel(r) ferrous bisglycinate chelate ferrochel(r) iron bisglycinate amino acid chelate ferrochel(r) iron chelate ferronyl ferronyl iron ferrous amino acid chelate ferrous aspartate ferrous asparto glycinate ferrous bis glycinate ferrous bis-glycinate ferrous bisglycinate ferrous bis-glycinate chelate ferrous bisglycinate chelate ferrous bisglycinate ferrochel(r) ferrous bisglycinate hydrochloride ferrous bisglycinate traacs(r) ferrous chelate {ferrous} fumarate amino acid chelate ferrous fumarate chelate ferrous glycinate ferrous glycinate chelate ferrous (ii) bis-glycinate chelate ferrous ii bis-glycinate chelate ferrous iron bisglycinate chelate ferrous oxide ferrous peptonate ferrous proteinate ferrous sulfate hpc from 90 mg of iron amino acid chelate heme iron polypeptide hip hvp iron chelate hydrolyzed protein iron chelate ionized ferrous aspartate iron {iron} aac iron a.a.c. iron aac iron aac complex iron a.a. chelate {iron} acc ironaid iron protein succinylate (iron) amino acid chelate {iron} amino acid chelate iron amino acid chelate iron amino acid chelate* iron amino acid chelate complex iron amino acid chelate/complex iron amino acid (rice) chelate (iron) aminoate {iron} aminoate iron aminoate {iron} aminoate complex iron aminoate complex {iron} aspartate iron {aspartate} iron aspartate iron bioglycirate chelate (iron) bisglycinate {iron} bis-glycinate {iron} bisglycinate iron bis-glycinate iron bisglycinate {iron} bisglycinate aac iron bisglycinate amino acid chelate iron bis-glycinate chelate iron bisglycinate chelate {iron} cfmsa chelate {iron} chelate iron chelate iron chelate complex {iron} ferrous aspartate glycinate iron ferrous rice chelate iron gluconate (iron) glycinate {iron} glycinate iron glycinate {iron} glycinate chelate iron glycinate chelate iron histidinate {iron} hvp chelate iron hydrolyzed protein chelate iron hydrolyzed protein-chelate iron (ii) bisglycinate iron (ii) glycinate iron ketoglutarate iron liver chelate {iron} peptonate iron peptonate iron protein succinylate iron rice chelate {iron} soy amino acid chelate {iron} soy amino acid chelate/complex iron taste free ferric glycinate k-pure natural heme iron polysaccharide iron polysaccharide-iron polysaccharide iron complex proferrin protein {iron} chetate quelato aminoácido de hierro soy protein iron chelate, hydrolyzed spirulina-bound ferrous aminoate sumalate sumulate traacs ferrochel traacs iron glycinate chelate Ferrous Ferric Fe soy protein iron chelate hydrolyzed iron bile salts Iron Bile salt (unspecified) Iron Bile salt iron ascorbate Iron ascorbate black iron oxide dark brown iron oxide fda/e172 black iron oxide ferrous and ferric oxides iron oxide iron oxide brown iron oxide red iron oxide red and oxide brown red iron oxide synthetic iron oxides Iron oxide iron amino acid oligofructose complex Iron Fructo-Oligosaccharides pyrite Iron pyrite iron alpha-ketoglutarate {iron} ketoglutarate Iron alpha-ketoglutarate (iron) picolinate {iron} picolinate iron picolinate Iron picolinate
15 forms
Oral

About Iron

Iron is an essential trace mineral primarily involved in oxygen transport and storage as a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscle. It is also a cofactor for numerous enzymes involved in energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, and cellular respiration. Iron exists in two primary dietary forms: heme iron (from animal sources, highly bioavailable) and non-heme iron (from plant sources and supplements, with bioavailability influenced by other dietary components). Deficiency leads to anemia, while excess can cause toxicity, making balanced intake critical.

Official resources

Fact sheets from the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements related to this ingredient group.

Dietary Supplement Label Database

Ingredient group data in NutriNav is aligned with the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD).

DSLD group id
7473

At a glance

Suggested daily

RDA varies by age, sex, and life stage. For adult men and postmenopausal women: 8 mg/day. For premenopausal women: 18 mg/day. During pregnancy: 27 mg/day.

Max safe daily

UL for adults is 45 mg/day of elemental iron from supplements and fortified foods.

Approval status

supplement

Compare All Forms

15 forms

Compare supplement forms of Iron by absorption quality and what your body actually gets from each:

High Moderate Low
Form Absorption Steps to absorb Notes Action
Ferrous Bisglycinate (Iron Bisglycinate)

Highly bioavailable, gentle-on-the-stomach iron supplement.

  • UNII: J7A7A9K0X0
  • CAS: 20150-34-9
  • Label category: synthetic
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Ferrous Fumarate

Iron supplement for anemia prevention and treatment

  • UNII: R5L488RY0Q
  • CAS: 141-01-5
  • Label category: synthetic
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Ferrous Sulfate

Common iron supplement for anemia. May cause stomach upset;...

  • UNII: 39R4TAN1VT
  • CAS: 7720-78-7 (anhydrous); 7782-63-0 (heptahydrate)
  • Label category: synthetic
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Heme Iron Polypeptide — — — View →
Heme Iron Polypeptide (HIP)

Gentle, high-absorption iron with minimal GI upset. Often de...

  • CAS: 9012-76-4 (related for protein hydrolysate-iron complexes)
  • Label category: hybrid
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Iron alpha-ketoglutarate — — — View →
Iron Amino Acid Chelate

Highly bioavailable, gentle iron form.

  • CAS: Varies by specific chelate (e.g., Iron Bisglycinate: 20150-34-9)
  • Label category: synthetic
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Iron ascorbate — — — View →
Iron Bile salt — — — View →
Iron Bile salt (unspecified)
  • DSLD group id: 7476
 — — — View →
Iron Fructo-Oligosaccharides — — — View →
Iron oxide — — — View →
Iron picolinate — — — View →
Iron pyrite — — — View →
Polysaccharide-Iron Complex

Iron supplement with improved gastrointestinal tolerance.

  • UNII: U5VDB62G2S
  • CAS: 9007-73-2
  • Label category: synthetic
 — — — View →

Also appears on labels as

Additional names seen on supplement labels for forms of this ingredient (beyond the main aliases above).

Amino Acid Chelated Iron, Copperas, Feostat, Ferric iron polypeptide, Ferric polymaltose, Ferrospan, Ferrous sulphate, Fersamal, Green vitriol, IPC, Iron-polysaccharide complex, Iron fumarate, Iron Glycinate Chelate (specific type), Iron polymaltose, Iron polypeptide complex, Iron sulfate, Iron vitriol, Palafer

Type: Minerals

Inorganic elements essential for various physiological functions including bone formation, nerve function, and enzyme activity.

Absorption: Minerals often compete for absorption. Chelated forms generally have better bioavailability.

Interactions: High doses of some minerals can interfere with absorption of others. Some minerals can interact with medications.

Watch out for

Possible interactions or cautions — talk to a healthcare provider if unsure.

  • Calcium may inhibit iron absorption.
  • Vitamin C enhances iron absorption.

Potential Benefits

Benefits associated with Iron forms:

Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia Prevention of Iron Deficiency Support for Cognitive Function & Energy Supports Energy Metabolism Treats Iron Deficiency Anemia High Bioavailability

And 16 more benefits...

Potential Side Effects

Side effects associated with Iron forms:

Gastrointestinal Distress How serious: low Oxidative Stress How serious: medium Iron Overload (Risk) How serious: high Constipation How serious: Mild Gastrointestinal Discomfort How serious: low Stool Discoloration How serious: low

And 9 more side effects...

What does the research say?

Heme Iron Polypeptide has been studied for its efficacy in treating iron deficiency anemia, particularly in pregnant women and children. Research indicates that it is better tolerated and more effective than traditional iron supplements like ferrous sulfate.