Reading Time: 7 min

Iron is a mineral that aids in producing healthy red blood cells and transporting oxygen throughout the body.

Low iron levels can cause iron deficiency anaemia, which reduces oxygen delivery to your body’s organs and tissues. Some people may have insufficient iron intake, poor absorption, or high iron requirements. As a result, they may be vulnerable to iron deficiency, which can cause headaches, confusion, lethargy, and many other problems.

Iron deficiency anaemia is considered one of the most prevalent nutritional problems worldwide, affecting up to 25% of the population. Regularly taking iron supplements can help you to manage iron deficiency anaemia. Still, your doctor may advise you to increase your iron intake by consuming more iron-rich foods.

This article will elaborate completely on the best prescription iron pills for anaemia, their pros and cons and the dose recommended for each supplement. 

Why is iron essential?

Iron is one of the essential nutrients in haemoglobin, a protein that moves oxygen from the lungs to your tissues, and myoglobin, another protein that transports and stores oxygen for working muscles.

Iron is also necessary to form brain cells, hormones, physical growth development, and muscle metabolism. Your body needs a continuous supply of iron from your food to sustain these critical functions. In nature, iron occurs in two different forms:

• Heme iron is a kind of iron that the human body can easily absorb in animal-derived food products. 
• Non-heme Iron is a type of iron present in plant-based and iron-fortified food products that are not effectively absorbed as heme iron.

If you are not taking enough iron from your diet, you can also take iron pills to prevent anaemia. Iron supplements may be required for people who do not take enough iron from their food or have elevated iron requirements.

Benefits of iron supplements

The majority of people receive all of their iron from their diet. However, if you have iron deficiency anaemia, your levels are insufficient to satisfy your nutritional requirements. You can try to restore your iron levels through diet, but for most people with deficient iron stores, taking iron via food is insufficient. 

Iron supplements provide iron to your body through easy-to-take, high-dose iron pills or liquid. Iron pills used to treat anaemia contain more iron than a multivitamin. So, take the iron pills wisely according to your doctor’s prescription.

If your body has some problem absorbing the iron from the diet, a supplement may help satisfy your need for this necessary micronutrient.

Types of supplements

Oral

The most popular therapy for anaemia is taking iron supplements orally. They are present in the form of tablets, liquids, or salt.

Several varieties of iron pills are available that are mentioned below:

• ferrous sulfate 
• ferrous gluconate 
• ferric citrate 
• ferric sulfate 

Intravenous

Certain people may require iron intravenously due to different problems. These problems include:

• If your body cannot digest or absorb oral iron pills
• If you have persistent blood loss, 
• If your gastrointestinal (GI) system has difficulty to absorbed iron.

There are different types of Intravenous iron supplements available in the market that are mentioned below:

• Iron dextran 
• Iron sucrose 
• Ferric gluconate 

Best prescription iron pills for anaemia

1. Thorne Iron Bisglycinate

Although there are numerous products, Thorne Iron Bisglycinate is one of the best supplements for treating anaemia. It is manufactured by one of the most trusted supplemental companies and comprises only iron.

Furthermore, each capsule contains 139% of the Daily Value (DV) for iron in ferrous bis-glycinate chelate. Ferrous bis-glycinate chelate is a kind of iron that your body can easily absorb and rarely cause GI side effects than other forms of iron, such as ferrous sulfate.

Athletes may use the product safely because it is NSF Certified for Sport and free of chemicals often prohibited by sports organizations.

Thorne’s facilities have also been independently verified by several foreign third-party organizations, including Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration, a regulatory body managed by the Australian Government Department of Health.

Advantages 

• NSF Approved for Sport
• Regulated by third-party 
• Recognized by healthcare practitioners 
• Gluten-free
• Free from artificial colours and flavours
• Rarely cause GI adverse effect

Disadvantages

• Difficult to find at local superstores
• Inappropriate for vegan 

2. Nature Made Iron 65mg Tablets

Nature Made claims 65 mg of iron per capsule, 361% of the DV for Iron, or 325 mg of ferrous sulfate.

Ferrous sulfate is a type of supplementary iron with high solubility, producing iron ions more quickly and thus more easily absorbed.

However, this iron is more prone than others to induce GI adverse effects such as constipation, discomfort, and indigestion.

The product has been certified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP), a third-party body that evaluates product quality, such as safety, bioavailability, and efficacy.

Advantages 

• Evaluated by the third party 
• Reasonable price (low cost)
• Higher iron content
• Free from gluten
• Free from artificial colours and flavours

Disadvantages

• May induce GI adverse effects such as constipation, discomfort, and indigestion
• Not recommended for vegans

3. Pure Encapsulations OptiFerin-C

OptiFerin-C by Pure Encapsulations includes 28 mg of iron bis-glycinate and 100 mg of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is frequently added to iron pills because it may aid absorption.

This iron pill is vegan-friendly and free from gluten, soy, and dairy products. It is also manufactured in a CGMP-certified laboratory.

Pure Encapsulations products meet or exceed USP standards and quality criteria (7).

Based on the company site, third-party laboratories, such as Skilliker, Eurofins, Intertek, and Advanced Laboratories, evaluate Pure Encapsulations products.

Advantages 

• Meet high-quality standard criteria
• Evaluated by the third party 
• Tested by Non-GMO
• Free from gluten
• For vegan 
• Added vitamin C

Disadvantages

• Difficult to find at local superstores

4. Garden of Life Vitamin Code Raw Iron

Vitamin Code from Garden of Life Raw Iron contains 22 milligrams of whole-food iron and 25 milligrams of vitamin C.

“whole food iron” refers to iron derived from nutrients in raw foods.

It also means the supplement was made without excessive heat, artificial binders, additives, sweeteners, colourants, or preservatives.

This product also includes an organic fruit and vegetable combination, in addition to a probiotic and enzyme blend, that aids in digestion.

An FDA-approved laboratory manufactures all Garden of Life products. This supplement is also verified as non-GMO, vegan, kosher, raw, and free from gluten.

Advantages 

• Manufactured in an FDA-verified laboratory
• Tested by Non-GMO
• Free from gluten
• Best for vegan 
• Added vitamin C

Disadvantages

• Costly 
• Not verified by the third party for efficacy and safety

5. Care/of Iron

This iron supplement contains 18 mg of ferrous bis-glycinate chelate, a type of iron that is less prone than other forms of iron, such as ferrous sulfate, that result in GI problems, including constipation.

This supplement is also non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and contains vitamin C for better absorption.

Advantages 

• Rarely cause GI adverse effects
• Evaluated by the third party 
• Tested by Non-GMO
• Free from gluten
• For vegan 
• Added vitamin C

Disadvantages

• Requires a prescription

6. Persona Iron with Vitamin C

Persona is the best prescription iron pill used to prevent and treat anaemia. It is designed in a way that iron can quickly absorb.

It consists of 18 mg of Iron as Ferronyl and contains vitamin C for absorption.

This iron pill is made at a facility where cross-contamination is possible and is free of gluten and other significant allergens. Therefore, it is not recommended for those with severe food allergies or intolerance.

Advantages 

• Tested by Non-GMO
• For vegan 

Disadvantages

• Requires a prescription
• Not verified by the third party
• Not good for severe food allergies 

7. Ritual Essential Multivitamin for Women 18+

This multivitamin is designed for 18+ Women. People who want to fill gaps in their diets should choose Ritual Essential Multivitamins. This vitamin contains iron bis-glycinate, is absorbed quickly and produces less GI discomfort than other kinds of iron.

This pill contains different nutrients you may have difficulty taking through diet alone. These nutrients include vitamin D, DHA, and folate.

This multivitamin doesn’t contain calcium, which could prevent iron from being absorbed.

Keep in mind that this multivitamin is suitable for vegans; it lacks a few nutrients that vegans may not receive enough of, such as iodine and zinc (9Trusted Source).

Additionally, it has low magnesium content and doesn’t contain vitamin C or many other B vitamins instead than folate and vitamin B12. 

Advantages 

• Verified by the third party
• Best absorbed form of iron
• Also added vitamin D, DHA, and vitamin B9
• Free from gluten and allergens
• For vegan 

Disadvantages

• Not a complete multivitamin because it doesn’t contain major essential nutrients

8. NOW Iron 18 mg

NOW is well-known for producing better items at reasonable pricing.

This supplement contains iron bis-glycinate chelate, which has 18 mg of iron in each capsule, and each container contains 120 capsules.

Furthermore, the product is made in laboratories approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a third-party inspection agency that assures items are created by following stringent safety requirements.

It is also verified as kosher, halal, and non-GMO.

While NOW supplements are free from gluten and common allergens, they are manufactured in places where cross-contamination may occur.

Advantages 

• Verified by non GMO
• Free from gluten and allergens
• For vegan 
• Prepared in UL- certified places
• Easily available
• Low cost

Disadvantages

• Not evaluated by the third party for efficacy and safety
• Not suitable for those individuals who have severe allergies and sensitivity

9. MegaFood Blood Builder

MegaFood Blood Builder contains 26 mg of iron bis-glycinate and 15 mg of vitamin C for enhanced absorption.

Furthermore, the product contains folate and B12, which are required to produce erythrocytes.

Six third-party testing bodies certify all MegaFood supplements. The B Corporation, NSF gluten-free, non-GMO, kosher, vegan, and residue-free glyphosate are among the industry’s credentials.

Remember that a third party has not evaluated the goods for accuracy or efficacy.

Advantages 

• NSF verified that it is gluten-free
• Verified by non-GMO
• For vegan 
• Evaluated by the third party for glyphosate residue-free

Disadvantages

• Costly 
• Not evaluated by the third party for efficacy and accuracy

10. Klaire Labs Chewable Iron Chelate

Chewable pills, like liquid supplements, are an easy and palatable way to get your vitamins and minerals.

Klaire Labs Chewable Iron Chelate contains 30 mg of elemental iron in the form of Ferrochel ferric tris glycinate chelate, an easily absorbed type of iron.

These pills taste like cherries and have fewer artificial sweeteners than other chewable vitamins available on the market.

Klaire Labs supplements are made in CGMP-verified places.

Advantages 

• Good option if you do not like or tolerate liquid or pills
• Verified by non-GMO
• For vegan 
• Evaluated by the third party for glyphosate residue-free
• Free from allergens, artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, and preservatives

Disadvantages

• Costly 
• Not evaluated by the third party for efficacy and accuracy

11. Pure Encapsulations Iron Liquid

Pure Encapsulations Iron Liquid contains 15 mg of iron in the form of SunActive Fe, a type of iron with greater efficacy that is effectively absorbed and does not cause digestive problems. 

As a result, Pure Encapsulations Iron Liquid is an excellent choice for persons with gastrointestinal adverse effects like constipation, discomfort, and indigestion while using ferrous salts.

This liquid contains cranberry and blueberry extract, which have potent antioxidant activity.

This product meets USP criteria and is evaluated for safety and purity by third-party facilities. It is also gluten-free and vegetarian.

Pure Encapsulations Iron Liquid is flavoured with a fresh pomegranate taste and sweetened with apple juice.

Advantages

• Good option if you do not like or tolerate chewable pills or iron salts
• Verified by non-GMO
• For vegan 
• Free from gluten
• Evaluated by the third party

Disadvantages

• Costly
• Don’t provide nutrition-related information 

Don’t miss…

7 Best daily supplements for women’s health

Top 05 effective therapeutic hobbies for mental health