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Iron Supplements Review

Find the Best Iron Supplement.

See Which Iron Supplements Passed CL's Tests and the Top Picks

Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D. cooperman.png

Initially Posted: 12/21/2017 | Last Updated: 09/12/2020
Iron Supplements Reviewed by ConsumerLab.com

Alphabetical list of iron supplement brands compared in this review

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Nature Made Iron

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GNC Gentlesorb Iron

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Ferro-Sequels

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Fergon

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Country Life Easy Iron

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Feosol Bifera HIP & PIC Iron

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Floradix Iron Tablets

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Garden of Life mykind Organic Plant Iron & Organic Herbs

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Jamieson Iron

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Life Extension Iron Protein Plus

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Member's Mark [Sam's Club] Iron

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Nature's Bounty Gentle Iron 28 mg

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NovaFerrum Pediatric Drops Liquid Iron

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NOW Iron

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Rexall [Dollar General] Iron

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Solaray BioCitrate Iron

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Solgar Gentle Iron 25 mg

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Spring Valley [Walmart] Iron

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VegLife Vegan Iron Chewable

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Vitamin Friends Iron

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Well at Walgreens Slow Release Iron

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Wellesse Liquid Iron

Make sure the iron supplement you take passed our tests and is right for you! Isn't your health worth it?

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Iron supplements can help to prevent and correct iron deficiency common in young women but also seen in children and among people taking drugs that reduce stomach acid. Iron supplementation may also reduce unexplained fatigue in women of child-bearing age, inhibit dry cough associated with ACE inhibitors, and reduce symptoms of restless legs syndrome in people with low ferritin levels.  

But choosing an iron supplement can be difficult: There are many different forms and doses of iron available, a wide range of prices, and some may be better manufactured than others.

To help you choose the best iron supplement, ConsumerLab.com independently purchased, tested, and reviewed iron supplements. Our tests revealed that most iron supplements contained what they claimed. However, one iron supplement failed tests.

Among products that were Approved in testing, ConsumerLab.com then carefully selected those providing the best form and value as its Top Picks.

You must be a ConsumerLab.com member to get the full test results along with ConsumerLab.com's Top Picks and information on using iron. You'll get results for 22 supplements: 14 selected by ConsumerLab.com and eight that passed the same testing in CL's voluntary Quality Certification Program.  

You'll get the following information about iron supplements in this comprehensive review:
  • Which iron supplements failed and which passed
  • Which iron supplements were Approved for their quality, offer the best value, and are CL's Top Picks
  • The pros and cons of different forms of iron (such as carbonyl iron, ferrous bisglycinate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous sulfate, as well as heme iron polypeptide, iron protein succinylate, polysaccharide iron complex, and plant-based iron) and which may be the best iron supplement for you
  • Iron dosage for specific applications, including anemia and unexplained fatigue
  • How to take iron to avoid stomach upset and increase absorption
  • Concerns, cautions, and potential drug interactions with iron supplements

Join to unlock the full report and get full access to over 1,300 reviews

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Related CL Answers (19)

How likely are Americans to be deficient in vitamins or minerals?

Read info based on the CDC about vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin A, B-6, B-12, C, D, and E, folate, and iron in the United States. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Which supplements are important after bariatric surgery (i.e., weight loss or stomach-reducing surgery)? Are there any I should avoid?

Find out which supplements may help after weight loss or stomach reducing surgery, including iron and calcium, and which should be avoided. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Are supplements with amino acid chelated minerals better than those with other forms of minerals?

Learn more about chelates, including evidence from clinical studies on selenium, iron, and magnesium. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Are enteric coated supplements better than non-enteric coated ones?

Learn about the pros and cons of enterically coated supplements, including ingredient absorption,safety and price. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

I developed a rash after taking an iron supplement and then realized the supplement contained soy, to which I am allergic. Can your reports help me avoid soy and other allergens in supplements?

Learn how to avoid supplements with soy, and other allergens, for those with allergies. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Do any supplements help relieve stress?

Are there actually supplements for stress relief and panic attacks? Learn more about holy basil, fish oil, L-theanine, and ginseng. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Do any supplements help for hair loss?

Vitamins and supplements that may help with hair loss and thinning, including saw palmetto, beta-sitosterol, protein, iron, and vitamin D. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Are the "% DV" numbers on vitamin supplement labels really based on what I need?

Learn more about percent daily values, including if they are good standards of measure or if better upper and lower limits exist. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Which supplements can help treat constipation?

Find out which supplements can help for constipation, including fiber, flaxseed, probiotics, and magnesium. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Can lysine, vitamin B-12, or other vitamins or minerals help prevent or reduce canker sores?

Lysine, B12, zinc and other vitamins and minerals for canker sores. Find out what supplements can help prevent or reduce canker sores. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Can prenatal vitamins have too much folic acid? Mine has 800 mcg, but isn't that more than what's recommended? Is this dangerous to me or my baby?

Is it possible for prenatal vitamins to have too much folic acid? Find out the correct dosage so that it is not dangerous to babies. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Which supplements help to improve energy and decrease fatigue?

Energy supplements and vitamins - Some can help increase energy and reduce fatigue, including CoQ10, curcumin/turmeric, cocoa, and B vitamins. ConsumerLab's answer explains.

I've heard that soaking dried beans for 24 hours reduces the phytate level, allowing for greater access to nutrients. Is this true?

Does soaking dried beans in water help reduce phytate levels to help gain greater access to nutrients? ConsumerLab's answer explains.

Do any supplements help for restless legs syndrome?

Find out whether supplements or vitamins like iron, magnesium, vitamin E and others can help for restless leg syndrome (RLS). ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Do any supplements help reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?

Find out which supplements help reduce premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, such as mood swings, pain, bloating, irritability and food cravings.

Why is iron not in many multivitamins? How can I find one that does contain iron?

Iron in multivitamins - Find out why many multivitamins do not contain iron, and how to find a quality multivitamin that does contain iron.

Is it true that calcium interferes with iron absorption? Is it a problem to take a multivitamin containing both minerals?

Iron and calcium - Learn how calcium supplements affect iron absorption, and whether it's okay to take a multivitamin that contains both calcium and iron. ConsumerLab.com answer explains.

Which supplements can cause constipation?

Find out which supplements can cause constipation, including iron, calcium, protein powders and drinks and others. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

Can vitamins or other supplements cause a change in the ability to taste, or even a loss of taste?

Find out if supplements or vitamin deficiencies can cause changes in taste, loss of taste or smell. Information about vitamin D, zinc, vitamins A, B6, B12 and others. Plus medications and medical conditions that can alter taste and smell. ConsumerLab.com's answer explains.

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