Nature’s Bounty Gentle Iron 28 mg Capsules, 90 Capsules
Description
Nature's Bounty Gentle Iron, 28 mg, 90 capsules. "Gentle" here refers to the form: iron bisglycinate, a chelated iron rather than the ferrous sulfate that gives conventional iron tablets their reputation for constipation.
What chelation does
Iron bisglycinate binds each iron atom to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. That wrapping means less free iron ends up loose in the digestive tract, which is where most of the nausea, cramping and constipation associated with iron supplements comes from. It also improves absorption relative to ferrous salts, and is somewhat less affected by dietary inhibitors.
Where it sits in the range
This is a well-priced non-heme option — considerably cheaper than the heme iron products we stock, while still avoiding the tolerability problems of basic ferrous sulfate. For many people it's the sensible middle ground.
The 90-capsule bottle
Three months at one daily. A practical starting size for a full course, given how long iron stores take to rebuild.
Getting the most from it
- Vitamin C in the same meal improves non-heme iron absorption — a glass of orange juice does the job
- Keep it separate from tea, coffee, dairy and calcium supplements by a couple of hours
- Consistency matters more than perfect timing; a dose taken imperfectly beats one skipped
Read before you start
Have your iron tested before supplementing. Ask your doctor for ferritin and a CBC. Fatigue has many causes, and where iron deficiency is genuine, the reason behind it matters — some causes need direct attention rather than a supplement over the top. Iron accumulates and can't be readily excreted.
Keep out of reach of children — accidental iron ingestion is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in children under six. If a child swallows any, call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017 immediately.
Speak to a healthcare professional first if you have haemochromatosis or another iron-overload condition, or take thyroid medication, certain antibiotics or other regular medicines.
Store cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.