A form of iron
Ferrous sulfate supplements
186 iron products in the NIH label database list iron as ferrous sulfate (2% of the 8,696 iron products); their median is 15 mg of iron per serving, against 5 mg across all iron products; the 49 whose only supplement ingredient is iron list a median of 65 mg (DSLD version 9.4.0, January 2026).
How does ferrous sulfate compare with the other forms?
The median amount of iron per serving in products naming each form; the count in brackets. The amount is the iron the label gives, as printed (the Supplement Facts row normally states the element; a row named as the compound usually gives the compound's weight and is left out of these figures).
Median iron per serving by form
Source: Supplement Facts rows and their forms, NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database version 9.4.0, current labels.
- Products
- 186134 on the market
- Median iron per serving
- 15 mgall iron products: 5 mg
- Share of iron products
- 2%186 of 8,696
Is the amount the iron or the whole ferrous sulfate?
A Supplement Facts row normally states the iron itself (a row like "Iron (as ferrous sulfate)"); a row named as the compound (a row like "Ferrous sulfate") usually states the compound's weight, which includes what the iron is bound to and is larger than the iron it supplies. The front of a bottle may print either. Of the 186 products here, 169 give the iron in its own row (1 of them an amount far outside what other labels list, or one their own %DV disagrees with); 17 give no amount of their own or one in another unit.
The adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level for iron is 45 mg a day; it covers total intake from food, water and supplements. At the most servings their labels direct, 43 of the 168 ferrous sulfate products with a plausible amount (25.6%) give more than that.
Source: Supplement Facts rows of each product's current label, NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database version 9.4.0; upper limit: Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes (2011) (what counts as plausible).
What else do these products contain?
| Ingredient | Share of these products | Median here | Median, all products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | 62% | 60 mg | 100 mg |
| Vitamin D | 59% | 10 mcg | 15 mcg |
| Vitamin A | 58% | 3,000 IU | 4,000 IU |
| Niacin | 55% | 20 mg | 20 mg |
| Calcium | 55% | 120 mg | 115 mg |
| Thiamin | 55% | 3 mg | 5 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 55% | 3 mg | 6 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 54% | 10 mcg | 36 mcg |
| Riboflavin | 54% | 3 mg | 4 mg |
| Folate | 53% | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
Which products are they?
60 of the 186 (on-market products first, the newest label first), ordered by the amount of iron per serving, largest first; an amount that looks like a slip or a compound's weight comes last, marked.
- Iron Tablets 65 mgGeri-Care65 mg
- Iron 65 mgPuritan's Pride65 mg
- Iron UltraAmen65 mg
- Iron 65 mgBest Naturals65 mg
- Iron 65 mg21st Century65 mg
- High-Potency Iron 65 mgMeijer65 mg
- Iron 65 mg (325 mg Ferrous Sulfate)Nature Made65 mg
- Ferrous Sulfate 325 mgNature's Blend65 mg
- Iron 65 mgMeijer65 mg
- Iron 65 mgNutricost65 mg
- Iron SulfateWindmill Natural Vitamins65 mg
- Ferrous Sulfate 325 mgPharbest Pharmaceuticals65 mg
- Ferrous Sulfate 325 mgPharbest65 mg
- Ferrous Sulfate Enteric-Coated Tablet 325 mgWP Westminster Pharmaceuticals65 mg
- Ferrous Sulfate 325 mgMarlex Pharmaceuticals65 mg
- Ferrous Sulfate Enteric-Coated Tablets 324 mgNationwide Pharmaceutical65 mg
- Iron 65 mgAN Amazing Nutrition Amazing Formulas65 mg
- Iron 65 mgBasic Vitamins65 mg
- Iron High Potency Slow ReleaseMason Natural50 mg
- Slow Release Iron21st Century45 mg
- Slow Release IronRite Aid Pharmacy45 mg
- Women's IronWindsor Botanicals35 mg
- Super PakBeverly International30 mg
- Ultra HematinicNutra BioGenesis30 mg
- Ferrous SulfatePuritan's Pride28 mg
- High Potency Prenatal Vitamin & Mineral FormulaNature's Truth27 mg
- Ultra Prenatal Vitamins & Minerals + DHANature's Truth27 mg
- Prenatal Women's Essentials + Folic Acid 800 mcgSundance Vitamins27 mg
- Whole Food Multi-Vitamin for MenWholesome Wellness24 mg
- Whole Food Multivitamin for WomenWholesome Wellness24 mg
- Ionic Iron 22 mgTrace Minerals22 mg
- One-Daily Multi-Vitamin with IronGeri-Care18 mg
- Pre-NatalPriority One Nutritional Supplements18 mg
- Female FertilityNature's Craft18 mg
- Green SourceWonder Laboratories18 mg
- Green SourceDC15 mg
- Pediatric FE-VITE Drops Delicious Natural Fruit FlavorAkron Pharma15 mg
- Multi and MineralSwanson12 mg
- Advanced Therapeutics Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM with Collagen Ultra Rx-Joint Delicious Mixed Berry FlavoredNaturesPlus12 mg
- Kids Vitamins & Minerals Chewable Natural Black Cherry FlavorSolaray12 mg
- Ionic Iron + Vitamin CAM Angstrom Minerals10 mg
- Optimmuner PlusHypernaturals10 mg
- Ionic IronTriquetra10 mg
- Formula VM-2000Solgar10 mg
- Men's 8HR Time-Release MultiPerformix9 mg
- Women's 8HR Time-Release MultiPerformix9 mg
- Blood Boost with Iron 7.5 mgDr. Mercola7.5 mg
- Ultimate Shake Natural Chocolate FlavorRenew Life Skinny Gut5.4 mg
- Focus Factor Max StrengthFocus Factor5 mg
- One-Daily Multi-Vitamin with MineralsGeri-Care4.5 mg
- Women's MultiHabit4.5 mg
- SST Multi +Performix3.6 mg
- Super-Lean Deluxe Meal Replacement Apple CobblerG6 Sports3.44 mg
- Super-Lean Deluxe Meal Replacement VanillaSTI Presents G6 Sports3.44 mg
- Super-Lean Deluxe Meal Replacement Peanut Butter MilkshakeG6 Sports3.44 mg
- Super-Lean Deluxe Meal Replacement ChocolateSTI Presents G6 Sports3.44 mg
- Complete One DailyPriority One Nutritional Supplements3 mg
- Hair Therapy Post-Baby Light Vanilla FlavorViviscal2.7 mg
- Greens Superfood BlendBodyMelt0.9 mg
- Prenatal MultivitaminAmvilab17 mg (possible slip)
Source: NIH ODS Dietary Supplement Label Database version 9.4.0; the form each label names for its row. Daily Values: the FDA's Daily Value page.
Which brands make them?
Nutracore Nutrition (14), Rugby (8), Vitamin World (6), Nature's Bounty (6), Geri-Care (6), Sundown Naturals (4), Puritan's Pride (4), Nature's Plus (4), Major (4), GNC Beyond Raw (4).