Iron 18mg (Iron Bisglycinate)

Name: NOW Foods Iron 18mg (Iron Bisglycinate)
Brand: NOW Foods
Price: 9.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Worth BuyingIron

Chelated iron (bisglycinate) at the RDA dose for premenopausal women. This form has significantly fewer GI side effects than ferrous sulfate. Only supplement if you have confirmed iron deficiency — excess iron is dangerous.

77/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked

77/ 100

Biorank Score

Independently ranked by Biorank Laboratories

Our Verdict

Worth Buying

NOW Foods Iron earns good marks for using the bisglycinate chelate form, which is the best-tolerated oral iron form available. The 18mg dose matches the female RDA exactly. No hype penalty because iron is marketed conservatively and the product does not overclaim. The safety score reflects iron's inherent risks — iron supplementation without confirmed deficiency can cause iron overload (hemochromatosis risk, especially in men). At $0.08/serving, essentially free if you need it.

Key Findings

Iron bisglycinate causes 50-70% fewer GI side effects than ferrous sulfate (Name et al., 2018)
18mg matches the RDA for premenopausal women — appropriate for maintenance, not treatment
NEVER supplement iron without confirmed deficiency — excess iron causes oxidative damage
At $0.08/serving, one of the cheapest supplements in the database — cost is not a factor
Take with Vitamin C for enhanced absorption; avoid calcium, dairy, coffee, and tea within 2 hours

Evidence Analysis

Iron supplementation is evidence-based specifically for iron deficiency anemia, which affects approximately 10% of premenopausal women in the US (CDC). Iron bisglycinate (Ferrochel chelate) has been shown to have equivalent or superior absorption to ferrous sulfate with significantly fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Szarfarc et al. (2001) and Name et al. (2018) demonstrated that bisglycinate caused 50-70% fewer GI complaints than ferrous sulfate at equivalent iron doses. The 18mg dose matches the RDA for premenopausal women (compared to 8mg for men and postmenopausal women). This is a replacement dose, not a treatment dose — iron deficiency anemia typically requires 60-120mg elemental iron under medical supervision.

Ingredient Breakdown

Ingredient	Dose	Effective Dose	Adequacy	Verdict
Iron (as Iron Bisglycinate, Ferrochel)	18mg	18mg (RDA) / 60-120mg (treatment)		Adequate

True Cost Analysis

Properly Dosed -- What You Pay Is What You Get

Listed Price

$0.08/serving

$2.40/month at 1 serving/day

True Cost Per Effective Dose

$0.08/effective dose

$2.40/month for effective dosing

Value Score

Excellent value

Save $1.20/month (50%)

by switching to Nature Made Iron 65mg

Where It Falls Short

Iron supplementation without confirmed deficiency is dangerous — excess iron causes oxidative damage and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and cancer. 18mg is the RDA but is insufficient for treating diagnosed iron deficiency anemia (which requires 60-120mg under supervision). Does not include Vitamin C, which enhances iron absorption. Iron bisglycinate still causes some constipation and nausea, just less than ferrous sulfate. Should not be taken with calcium, dairy, coffee, or tea (absorption interference).

Best For

Premenopausal women with confirmed low ferritin or mild iron deficiency
Women with heavy menstrual periods who need ongoing iron replenishment
Those who experienced GI side effects with ferrous sulfate
Vegetarians and vegans with borderline iron status

Not Ideal For

Men (iron overload risk is higher, deficiency is rare)
Postmenopausal women without confirmed deficiency
Anyone without blood-work-confirmed iron deficiency (NEVER supplement iron blindly)
People with hemochromatosis or hereditary iron overload conditions
Those with diagnosed iron deficiency anemia (need higher therapeutic doses)