If you've been told by a doctor that you are anemic or need to take iron supplements, you may be confused about which ones to take. Vegetarians and pregnant women may also need to take iron, as not getting enough dietary iron can lead to dizziness, fatigue and easy bruising. There are many brands of iron supplements and different forms of iron on the store shelves these days. Finding the best type of iron supplement for you comes down to comparing all of them.
Step 1
Look at what form of iron each iron supplement contains. Iron supplements are made of either a ferric or ferrous form of iron. According to the National Anemia Action Council, the ferrous types of iron are absorbed best by the body. The National Anemia Action Council recommends choosing a supplement with ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate.
Step 2
Compare the different doses in popular brands of iron supplements. While it may be tempting to choose the iron supplement with the highest dose, that's actually not the best idea. The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements, ODS, states that most people cannot absorb high doses of iron in one sitting, so it's a better idea to take an iron supplement with around 50 mg to 60 mg of elemental iron twice a day.
Step 3
Use regular iron capsules instead of liquid drops or extended release capsules. Regular iron capsules are absorbed the best, according to the National Anemia Action Council. It states that extended release capsules should only be used if you have trouble handling the regular capsules due to side effects, such as nausea. Liquid iron drops should only be giving to children who have trouble swallowing pills.
Step 4
Check bottles of iron supplements for a USP label. The United States Pharmacopeia, USP, is a non-profit public health entity that sets standards for vitamins. If a bottle of iron supplements has a "USP" symbol, that means the product was tested for safety and accuracy of dose and ingredients. If the product does not have a USP label, there is no guarantee that what the product label states it contains is accurate.
Step 5
Choose an iron supplement that has added vitamin C, if possible. The National Anemia Action Council states that taking vitamin C at the same time as iron can help increase iron absorption. Therefore, some manufacturers have started adding ascorbic acid or another form of vitamin C in their iron supplements.
Things You'll Need
- Product labels on different iron supplements
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