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 12 of 174), each with the amount its label prints; an amount far outside what other labels print is marked as a possible slip.

• Ancient Multi Women's Once DailyAncient Nutrition6 mg
• Ancient Nutrients Blood BuilderAncient Nutrition27 mg
• Ancient Nutrients IronAncient Nutrition · off the market18 mg
• Ancient Nutrients Iron 18 mgAncient Nutrition18 mg
• Androvite for MenOptimox Corporation · off the market18 mg
• Androvite for MenOptimox18 mg
• Anemia ControlHerbs SRA164 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Anemia DefenseHerbs SRA168 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Anemiaprin +BioPerineApproved Science15 mg
• Angstrom Minerals Iron plus Vitamin CAngstrom Minerals · off the market10 mg
• Animal Shapes Complete With CholineSunmark9 mg
• Animal Shapes With IronSunmark15 mg
• Animal Shapes with IronMajor18 mg
• Animal Whey ChocolateAnimal1 mg
• Animal Whey VanillaAnimal0.3 mg
• Anti-AgingIsotonix Essentials10 mg
• Anti-Aging Collagen Protein Shake Vanillayoutheory · off the market18 mg
• Anti-Gray 9000Justified Laboratories14.5 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Antioxidant BlendBarlean'sin a blend
• Antioxidant ExtremeHealthForce · off the market0.7 mg
• Anutra GrainAnutra1 mg
• Apetigen PlusKramer Novis12.5 mg
• Apetima's Plus BiokemicalRazel Laboratories1.1 mg
• Apothe-CherryPuriumno amount
• Apothe-Cherry Cherry Juice ConcentratePurium · off the marketno amount
• Appebon Kid Syrup with IronUNILAB9 mg
• Appedex SX-7 Mixed Berry SmoothieMuscleTech2.9 mg
• AppeFIT Apple PunchThe Vitamin Shoppe Next Step2 mg
• AppeFIT Mixed BerryThe Vitamin Shoppe Next Step2 mg
• Appetite Control Orange ZestMeta1.4 mg
• Appiless Berry Fusion SmoothiePurely Inspired0.4 mg
• Apple Cider Vinegar Cleanse360 Nutritionin a blend
• Apple Cider Vinegar ElderberryFlora0.2 mg
• Apple Cider Vinegar Ginger & Lemon FlavorFlora0.2 mg
• Apple Cider Vinegar Red BeetFlora0.2 mg
• Apple Cider Vinegar Turmeric & CinnamonFlora0.2 mg
• ArginMaxGNC Women's9 mg
• ArginMax for WomenThe Daily Wellness Company9 mg
• Arnold Iron Whey ChocolateMusclePharm0.63 mg
• Arnold Iron Whey VanillaMusclePharm0.28 mg
• AsensiaThe Daily Wellness Company9 mg
• Ashwagandha Root PowderMaju Superfoodsno amount
• AshwaMilkNorth American Herb & Spicein a blend
• AspartameBulkSupplements.com · off the marketno amount
• Aspartame Powder 1000 mgBulkSupplements.comno amount
• Astragalus Root ExtractSolgar · off the market0.5 mg
• Athlete FormulaNutrina · off the market4.5 mg
• Athlete's Whey Chocolate ShakeDymatize · off the market1.3 mg
• Athlete's Whey Cookies & CreamDymatize · off the market0.6 mg
• Athlete's Whey Vanilla ShakeDymatize · off the market0.4 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