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Mineral

Iron

Iron is an essential mineral the body needs to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

Also listed as Ferrochel

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The number to compare is elemental iron

Ferrous sulfate, fumarate, and gluconate contain different proportions of iron. The US Supplement Facts panel lists elemental iron, which allows comparison without using the weight of the entire salt. Ferrous forms are generally more readily absorbed than ferric forms; tolerability also matters when comparing products. 1

Why can a study dose exceed a daily reference?

The fatigue trial used 80 mg/day for 12 weeks in women selected for low ferritin. That is a treatment study, not a routine intake target. NIH notes that clinicians sometimes prescribe doses above the general upper limit to restore iron stores. 1 2

Sources

  1. Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals NIH Office of Dietary Supplements