HEMAFORTE FE Heme Iron Supplement, 30 Capsules
Description
HEMAFORTE FE, 30 capsules — another heme iron supplement, from Seaford Pharmaceuticals. Heme iron is the form present in red meat, and it's absorbed by a different route than the iron salts in conventional supplements.
The absorption difference
Standard iron supplements use non-heme iron — ferrous sulfate, fumarate or gluconate. That form competes for uptake with a long list of everyday things: tea, coffee, dairy and calcium supplements, whole grains, legumes, antacids. It's why the instructions on ordinary iron tablets involve so much timing.
Heme iron enters through its own dedicated transport pathway, largely unaffected by those interactions, and tends to sit better in the digestive system because less unabsorbed iron is left behind in the gut to cause irritation.
The 30-capsule bottle
A month's supply. Reasonable for a first attempt with heme iron, a short course, or seeing how you tolerate it before buying the 60-capsule size.
Read before you start
Get tested first. A ferritin test and CBC from your doctor tell you whether you're actually iron-deficient — and if you are, what's causing it, which is often the more important question. Iron accumulates in the body and can't be readily excreted, so supplementing without deficiency isn't a neutral act.
Store out of reach of children. Iron overdose is one of the leading causes of poisoning death in children under six. If a child swallows any, call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017 immediately — don't wait for symptoms.
Speak to a healthcare professional first if you have haemochromatosis or another iron-overload disorder, or if you take thyroid medication, certain antibiotics, or other regular medication — iron interferes with the absorption of several drugs. Contains a meat-derived ingredient; not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Comparing your options
We stock several iron products at different price points and in both heme and non-heme forms. Our pharmacists can help you work out which suits your situation, your other medications and your budget — that conversation is free and usually saves money.
Store cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.