What are the gentlest organic iron supplements on the market, please? Worst? What were your reactions?

As with anything, we're all individuals and will react to certain things differently. For me personally, i first began taking over the counter iron pills which naturally constipated me and seem to constipate most people. I then bought another over the counter iron supplement in liquid form. This didn't cause any side effects and was quite pleasant to take, but the only problem with this was that the dosage was so low and i wasnt getting anywhere fast with it. Later on my dr told me i could triple the dosage if i wanted without any adverse health problems occuring. The problem is that when you buy something you naturally follow the dosage off the instructions and you dont know whether it's ok to double or triple the dosage or not.

I then found a new doctor who gave me a supplement which was formulated in conjunction with a few doctors and it was of a high dosage and quite strong, which led to upset stomach and irritable bowel. Later he got me taking an 'organic' iron supplement along with it which ended the IBS symptoms, but my ferretin was taking it's time moving up. As my thyroid was somewhat affected by my low ferretin levels my dr then moved me to iron injections as he didn't want my thyroid to become complicated any further.

Yesterday i had a fresh blood test and will find out next week what my results are. I feel so much better after the injections. I don't know what exactly caused my ferretin to gradually drop so low. If my levels dont stay up this time round they will investigate possible reasons and do further tests.

Hi glenni,

I think the best OTC iron supplement on the market is the Chelated type. The mineral iron is bonded to a protein amino acid -glynine that is readily absorbable because it is double bonded and smaller for better bioavailability.

The brand I have used and my wife is now using is by Carlson and is Internationally Patented by Albion Labs.

My wife takes 1 pill daily and it contains 27mg of iron glycinate chelate-- with a meal but it doesn't have to be taken with a meal for absorption -- a glass of water will do.

She has had no side-effects since she started it about a month ago.

Her next Doctor's appointment is on 11/6 and they will then test her low irons levels then but they were not real abnormally low--Her doctor said, he was satified with the the Iron I chose and the time table for testing.

During the last month -- her energy and motivation has improved-- and I can tell a dfference but I don't know how much she is actually getting at this dose rate.

In the pass we have been satisfied with Chelated Minerals so have changed all minerals that we take over the last 4 years or so to the chelated type produced by Albion Lab but distributed by other Companies like Carlson, Solgar, Kal, Doctor's Best and others.

They all seem to work well-- we lake Calcium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc, and Copper.
Her B-12 level was slightly higher than normal so I stopped giving her any B vitamin that contains B-12.

Harry

PS-- The worse I have taken was Slo FE-- it constipated me and irritated hemorrhoids -- it may even have caused them!

Thank you, Harry and Audrey for your great replies. :)

Sorry i can't help you with brand names. I dont recall the name of the liquid one i used as i threw out the bottles once i finished with them and it was a while back.

The last lot which my specialist gave me, including the organic iron tablets, do not carry brand names as they are specially formulated by a number of dr's and pharmacists and my specialist gets his patients to use it. It's not something you can buy over the counter.

You can request organic iron tablets from your chemist to take along with any other iron supplement which gives you stomach cramps or diahrrea as the organic ones are supposed to keep things 'calm'. You can probably buy actual iron supplements which are organic to take on their own too.

Another good thing to take is the amino acid Lysine as it helps transport iron and you can only get lysine naturally through very limited foods such as meat, fish and eggs. The problem with relying on getting it from food is that other foods which are high in arginine end up destroying the lysine. I take one tablet 20 mins before breakfast and dinner.

Thanks It still helps to know that it was a liquid. I'm not afraid so much of it hurting my stomach or my getting clogged up (I eat my fiber). The main concern is that I have allergic reactions to most foods/preservatives. I have not been able to eat iron rich foods/tabs for a long time (3 yrs). It's mainly the result of sensitivity to B12 tabs I had a while back.

Thanks for your explanation/info. :)

They didn't have any of the supplements that people mentioned. I wound up getting Feosol, Blue Bonnett Iron, Herbal Iron from Nature Works, and Flinstones with Iron. I figure one should work.

Hi all - I use Solgar Gentle Iron, which is an Iron Bisglycinate and doesn't irritate the gut or cause constipation. I've been taking them a month now and no nasty side effects.

Highly recommended.

Nik x

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I should probably say that Feosol is the best supplement I've tried so far. I had a small allergic reaction initially, but the lowest dose of Allegra takes care of it. It didn't make me feel sick like the Blue Bonnetts. My face didn't swell up the way it did on Fergon.