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

• Dissolvable Collagen Packs Collagen + MCT Oil Orange CreamVade Nutrition3.2 mg
• Dissolvable Collagen Packs Collagen + MCT Oil Pina ColadaVade Nutrition3.2 mg
• Dissolvable Plant Protein Packs French VanillaVade Nutrition9.8 mg
• Dissolvable Plant Protein Packs Rich ChocolateVade Nutrition8.9 mg
• Diva Fat BurnerHIT Supplements · off the market9 mg
• Doctor's Choice Female TeensEnzymatic Therapy · off the market30 mg
• Doctor's Choice Multivitamins WomenEnzymatic Therapy · off the market18 mg
• Doctor's Choice Prenatal FormulaEnzymatic Therapy · off the market30 mg
• Doctor's Choice WomenEnzymatic Therapy · off the market18 mg
• Dong QuaiSolgar · off the market1 mg
• Dothelle DHA SoftgelsMethod Pharmaceuticals91.5 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Double Bonded Protein Vanilla BeanMt. Capra0.6 mg
• Double ChocolateON Optimum Nutritionin a blend
• Double Chocolate SlimStyles With PGXNatural Factors3 mg
• Double Strength Iron 36 mgNOW36 mg
• Double Vanilla Ice Cream Nutrition ShakesiSatoriin a blend
• Double XNutrilite2.5 mg
• Double X Multivitamin/Multimineral/PhytonutrientNutrilite5 mg
• DoweedosBlazein a blend
• Dr. Wachters' Professional Formula AWachters' · off the market9 mg
• Dream Cinnamon Cocoa FlavorBeam1 mg
• Dream Protein Chocolate DreamGreens First Pro6.2 mg
• Dream Protein Rich Dutch Chocolate FlavorGreens First0.5 mg
• Dream Protein Vanilla DreamGreens First Pro5 mg
• Drive!Higher Nature2.5 mg
• Driven Blood Orange FlavoredMRM Nutrition0.3 mg
• Driven Mixed Berries FlavoredMRM Nutrition0.3 mg
• Driven Strawberry-Kiwi FlavoredMRM Nutrition0.3 mg
• DS/SADI Bariatric Multivitamins with 60 mg IronProCare Health60 mg
• Dudhi PowerHerbal Hillsin a blend
• Dudhi Power Green Food SupplementHerbal Hillsin a blend
• Dynamic BrainStonehenge Health1 mg
• Dynamic Fruits & Greens BerryNutri-Dyn0.59 mg
• Dynamic Gainer Chocolate EclairGNC Beyond Raw1 mg
• Dyno VitesNatures Plus25 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Dyno Vites for Athletes and Active AdultsNature's Plus · off the market25 mg as transcribed, likely a slip
• Dyno-Mins IronNature's Plus · off the market27 mg
• Dyno-Mins Iron 27 mgNature's Plus · off the market27 mg
• Dyno-Mins Multi-MineralNatures Plus · off the market9 mg
• E3 AfaE3Live0.47 mg
• E3 RenewMe!E3Live0.77 mg
• Earth BrothHealthForce SuperFoods1.6 mg
• Earth Grown Nutrients Black Cherry FlavorOnnit1 mg
• Earth Grown Nutrients Lemon Mint FlavorOnnit1 mg
• Earth Source Food Fermented Koji Iron 27 mgSolgar27 mg
• Earth Source Food Koji Fermented Iron 27 mgSolgar27 mg
• Earth Source Multi-NutrientSolgar18 mg
• Earth Source Organic Cold-Milled FlaxSolgarin a blend
• Earth TeaB4B Earth Tea · off the market0.7 mg
• Easily Absorbed Iron 29 mgFreeda · off the market29 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