mineral

Iron supplements

Half of the 6,910 iron supplements in the NIH label database that print an amount list 5 mg or less per serving; the middle half list 1.2 mg to 18 mg, and 1 in 29 of the 6,825 with a plausible amount give more than the adult upper limit at the most servings their labels direct (DSLD version 9.4.0, January 2026). The 291 products whose only supplement ingredient is iron list a median of 27 mg, and 25% of them give more than the upper limit.

How much iron do supplements contain?

The median product lists 5 mg per serving. One in ten lists 0.5 mg or less, one in ten 27 mg or more. The amount printed most often is 18 mg (778 products).

How do the amounts compare with the Daily Value and the upper limit?

The FDA Daily Value for iron is 18 mg (adults and children 4 and older). The median product gives 28% of it per serving; the 90th percentile 150%.

The adult Tolerable Upper Intake Level is 45 mg a day (total intake from food, water and supplements). At the most servings their labels direct, 234 of the 6,825 products with a plausible amount (3.4%) give more than that from the supplement alone (what counts as plausible).

The upper limit is for total intake from food, water and supplements unless stated, and does not apply under medical supervision. A label amount is what the maker printed. This is data, not advice: the NIH ODS fact sheets explain what each nutrient does.

Which forms of iron do labels name?

Ferrous fumarate is the form named most often: 1,280 of the 8,696 iron products (15%), ahead of iron bisglycinate (546, 6%) and ferrous gluconate (228, 3%). A product naming two forms counts in both; the table below gives every form.

• Ferrous fumarate
• Iron bisglycinate
• Ferrous gluconate
• Ferrous sulfate
• Carbonyl iron
• Polysaccharide-iron complex

Which products list the most iron?

On-market products, per serving, with a plausible amount: the rule leaves out likely entry slips, such as an amount far beyond every other label with no %DV or strength on the label to back it (each product page still shows its own amount, marked).

• Trigelsd-F ForteTrigen Laboratories151 mg
• Trigels-F ForteTrigen Laboratories151 mg
• Ferrex-150Major150 mg
• Ferrex 150 Plus CapsulesBreckenridge150 mg
• Ferrex 150Breckenridge Pharmaceutical150 mg
• FEONYX 1 mg/150 mgAmella Pharma150 mg
• Corvite 150Vertical Pharmaceuticals150 mg
• Corvite FeVertical Pharmaceuticals150 mg

Have the amounts changed over the years?

Products whose current label entered DSLD in 2011 list a median of 6 mg; those entered in 2025, 4 mg.

In which products and brands?

Brands listing it most: Nature's Plus (162), Nature's Way (73), Core Nutritionals (63), Douglas Laboratories (58), Amazing Grass (55), Bronson (50), Sunwarrior (50), Garden of Life (49), Solgar (47), XYMOGEN (45).

Every product listing iron

8,696 products, A to Z by name (page 107 of 174), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.

• Organic Pea Protein UnflavoredHerbal Secrets · off the marketin a blend
• Organic Plant Protein Chocolate FlavorBluebonnet5.5 mg
• Organic Plant Protein Chocolate MintNatural Force7 mg
• Organic Plant Protein Creamy ChocolateNOW Sports9 mg
• Organic Plant Protein Creamy VanillaNOW Sports8 mg
• Organic Plant Protein Natural UnflavoredNOW Sports7.6 mg
• Organic Plant Protein UnflavoredNatural Force6.5 mg
• Organic Plant Protein Vanilla ChaiNatural Force6.2 mg
• Organic Plant Protein Vanilla FlavorBluebonnet5.5 mg
• Organic Plant-Protein Powder Chocolate22 Days Nutrition2 mg
• Organic Plant-Protein Powder Natural22 Days Nutrition2 mg
• Organic Plant-Protein Powder Strawberry22 Days Nutrition2 mg
• Organic Plant-Protein Powder Vanilla22 Days Nutrition2 mg
• Organic Post-Workout Peach TeaMRM Nutrition · off the market2 mg
• Organic Post-Workout Peach Tea FlavoredMRM Nutrition1.5 mg
• Organic Power4Genesis Today · off the market0.1 mg
• Organic Pre-Workout Apple GingerNatural Force0.64 mg
• Organic Pre-Workout Black CherryNatural Force0.39 mg
• Organic Pre-Workout ChocolateNatural Force1.7 mg
• Organic Pre-Workout Island FusionMRM Nutrition · off the market1.3 mg
• Organic Pre-Workout Island Fusion FlavoredMRM Nutrition1.3 mg
• Organic Premium Matcha Green Tea PowderHealth Ranger Selectno amount
• Organic Protein & Kale Smooth Chocolate FlavoredAmazing Grass8.1 mg
• Organic Protein Chocolate CocoaNature's Food · off the market1.3 mg
• Organic Protein Decadent ChocolatePurely Inspired8.3 mg
• Organic Protein French VanillaPurely Inspired7.2 mg
• Organic Protein Peppermint MochaPurely Inspired8.4 mg
• Organic Protein UnflavoredThe Natural Citizen · off the marketin a blend
• Organic Psyllium FiberKonsyl1 mg
• Organic Psyllium Husk PowderViva Naturals1 mg
• Organic Psyllium Husk Powder OrangeViva Naturals4 mg
• Organic Pumpkin Seed ProteinHealth Ranger Select4 mg
• Organic Pumpkin Seed ProteinGroovy Bee3.8 mg
• Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein UnflavoredNOW Sports3.4 mg
• Organic QuinoaHealth Ranger Select2.1 mg
• Organic Raw Cacao NibsHerbal Secrets · off the marketin a blend
• Organic Raw Cashews Whole & PiecesHealth Ranger Select1.9 mg
• Organic Recovery NectarNatural Force2 mg
• Organic Red Juice Fruit Punch FlavorOpportuniteas0.2 mg
• Organic Rice Bran FiberHealth Ranger Select0.4 mg
• Organic Rice Bran FiberGroovy Bee0.4 mg
• Organic Rice ProteinBulkSupplements.com1 mg
• Organic Rice Protein Powder 30 gBulkSupplements.com6.3 mg
• Organic Rice Protein Powder ChocolateNutriBiotic1 mg
• Organic Rice Protein Powder PlainNutriBiotic1 mg
• Organic Rice Protein VanillaNutriBiotic1 mg
• Organic Sacha Inchi PowderSuperfoods By MRM Nutrition0.5 mg
• Organic Sea Buckthorn 100Genesis Today3 mg
• Organic Sea Buckthorn 100GT Genesis Today3 mg
• Organic Select Pea UnflavoredMoss Nutrition7 mg

Where next?

• Iron capsules
• Iron drops
• Iron gummies
• Iron powder
• Liquid iron
• Vegan iron
• Check an amount of iron
• Labels above the upper limit
• All ingredients