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

• Classic Protein NaturalSunwarrior1.5 mg
• Classic Protein VanillaSunwarrior1.2 mg
• Classic Whey Cake BatterNutraBio · off the market1 mg
• Classic Whey Chocolate MilkshakeNutraBio0.48 mg
• Classic Whey Chocolate Peanut ButterNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Cold Brew CappuccinoNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Cookies & CreamNutraBio · off the market1 mg
• Classic Whey HorchataNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Lemon Meringue PieNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Pina ColadaNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Pumpkin SpiceNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Salted CaramelNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey StrawberryNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey Strawberry SmoothieNutraBio1 mg
• Classic Whey UnflavoredNutraBio1 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Classic Whey Unflavored/RawNutraBio1 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Clean & Lean Recovery Shake ChocolateLyfe Fuel7 mg
• Clean & Lean Recovery Shake Vanilla ChaiLyfe Fuel6 mg
• Clean Chlorella PowderHealth Ranger Select1.1 mg
• Clean Gainer Creamy VanillaRivalusin a blend
• Clean Gainer Rich ChocolateRivalusin a blend
• Clean Green Protein With Lentein Vanilla ChaiClean Machine · off the market6.3 mg
• Clean Protein Rich Chocolate FlavorKion1.1 mg
• Cleanse Pak 14-Day Total Body DetoxTrace Minerals Research1 mg
• Cleanse Pak Part 1Trace Minerals Research0.85 mg
• Cleanse Pak Part 2Trace Minerals Research1 mg
• Clear Nails Plusnutra4health · off the market14.5 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Clear Protein Cookies and CreamFINAFLEXno amount
• Clear Protein Double ChocolateFINAFLEX1 mg
• Clear Protein Savage Peach TeaEnhanced0.11 mg
• Clear Protein VanillaFINAFLEXno amount
• Clear Protein Vanilla CaramelFINAFLEXno amount
• Clear Protein Vanilla Ice CreamFINAFLEXno amount
• Clinical Formula Hair VitaminsHair La Vie18 mg
• Clinical IronTerry Naturally30 mg
• Clinical Nutrients for Female TeensIntegrative Therapeutics30 mg
• Clinical Nutrients For WomenIntegrative Therapeutics18 mg
• Clinical Nutrients Prenatal FormulaIntegrative Therapeutics30 mg
• Clinical Prostate SuppportNatural Clinician3.6 mg
• Coach's FormulaThompson6 mg
• Coco BerriIVL0.7 mg
• Cocoa HGHDaVinci Laboratories of Vermont · off the market1.2 mg
• Cocoa HGHDaVinci Laboratories1.2 mg
• CocoaMind Mint ChocolateLife Extension2.7 mg
• CocoaVia Brand Sweetened Dark Chocolate MixMars Symbioscience0.7 mg
• CocoaVia Brand Unsweetened Dark Chocolate MixMars Symbioscience0.9 mg
• CocoaVia Sweetened Dark Chocolate Flavored MixMars Botanical · off the market1 mg
• CocoaVia Unsweetened Dark Chocolate Flavored MixMars Botanical · off the market1 mg
• CoComelon Toddler Multivitamin Liquid Drops Orange VanillaMary Ruth’s0.2 mg
• Coconut MilkBareOrganics · off the marketno amount

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