General Questions about Iron
What is iron?
Iron is a mineral required by the human body for growth and development. Every cell in the body requires oxygen to function and iron is an essential component of hemoglobin and myoglobin, which provide and carry oxygen to all parts of the body.
What are some risk factors for an iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. Children, women of childbearing age, frequent blood donors, and individuals with certain medical conditions (e.g. malabsorption syndromes) are often most at risk. In addition, diets that are overly reliant on refined and processed foods can also pose challenges to achieving optimal iron intake.
How do I know if I need to supplement with iron?
While individuals with a mild iron deficiency may not experience or exhibit any obvious symptoms, those with a severe deficiency may experience fatigue, shortness of breath, or chest pain. It is never a good idea to self-diagnose or self-treat a health condition, so we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine if an iron supplement is appropriate for your individual needs.
Are there any food sources of iron?
Meat, poultry and fish, spinach, swiss chard, and parsley are all excellent dietary sources of iron. Iron can also be found in a variety of plant-based foods like bok choy, brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, asparagus, leeks, and lettuce. It may be important to note that plant sources of iron are in the non-heme form, which has lower bioavailability than the heme form found in meat, poultry, and fish. However, the quantity of non-heme iron in plant sources is much higher, so even with the lower bioavailability, non-heme iron contributes more in terms of nutrition than heme iron. Legumes such as soybeans, black beans and lentils may also contain decent amounts of iron but the phytic acid they contain may reduce iron absorption. Certain methods of food preparation, such as soaking, sprouting, fermenting, and cooking, can reduce phytic acid content which may help improve iron absorption from these foods.
What is the recommended daily allowance for iron?
The 100% daily value (%DV) for iron for individuals 18 years of age and older is 18 mg. This goes up to 27 mg per day during pregnancy/breastfeeding. The body’s demand for iron is lower in some population groups (e.g. men, post-menopausal women), so, as with any supplement, please talk to your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to ensure you are following the dosing schedule that is right for your particular health needs.
Is there an established upper toxicity limit for iron?
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is considered to be the highest amount you can take of a nutrient without theoretical risk. The Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) of the Institute of Medicine has based the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for iron at 45 mg per day. This amount is largely based on preventing symptoms of gastrointestinal distress (e.g. constipation) that can occur from excess iron intake from supplements or fortified foods.
Can iron supplements be taken with OTC or prescription medications?
Taking iron supplements at the same time as some medications may result in decreased absorption and efficacy of the medication and/or the iron supplement. If you are taking or planning to take an OTC or prescription medication, please consult a licensed pharmacist or your healthcare provider before beginning supplementation to minimize risk of side effects associated with potential supplement-drug interactions.
Still have questions?
- For general information about iron, check out the resources below—
- Iron Fact Sheet for Consumers — Office of Dietary Supplements
- Iron — Linus Pauling Institute
- Iron — Harvard School of Public Health
- Iron — Medline Plus
- For specific guidance on the suitability of iron to support your particular health goals, please talk to your healthcare provider.
Questions about Iron Gold
What form of Iron does Iron Gold provide?
Iron Gold provides a gentle and nourishing form of plant-based iron from curry leaf and other ingredients in the organic food blend. The full list of organic foods can be found under the ‘Organic Food Blend’ in the supplement facts panel (on the label) and on the product page on our website. Iron Gold is not synthetic iron fermented, grown or cultured in yeast or a blend of organic foods fortified with synthetic iron and marketed as “whole-food” or “food-based” iron.
Does Iron Gold cause constipation or any other gastric discomfort?
Most iron supplements are synthetically created and, in high doses, can cause gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and constipation. Although individual experiences can vary, Iron Gold is gentle, well-tolerated, and does not cause any digestive discomfort.
What is the purpose of the organic food blend in Iron Gold?
At Nutrigold, we are mindful of the fact that every ingredient in a product, regardless of whether it is an active ingredient that provides a health benefit or an additive that ensures finished product integrity, can and will likely have some impact on consumers’ health. This is why we are philosophically opposed to the use of synthetic, semi-synthetic, or commodity additives like magnesium stearate and silicon dioxide commonly found in most commercially-available supplements. We choose instead to use organic, plant-based, pantry-friendly functional additives that not only have a history of safe use, but may help support the bioavailability and absorption of iron from the curry leaf in the food blend.
How does NutriGold ensure the purity of the ingredients used in its Iron Gold product?
At NutriGold, we go above and beyond what is recommended or required under current GMPs to independently verify that the raw materials used in our products as well as the finished products themselves meet industry-defining quality and purity standards. Depending on the complexity of the testing involved, including determining what needs to be tested, what methods are fit-for-purpose, and which lab is most qualified to perform the testing, we sometimes have results from as many as 4 or 5 different independent, ISO-certified labs for each product. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis that are freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions.
What assurance can you provide that the amount of iron listed on the label (18 mg) is actually in the product?
All of our products are verified by independent third-party labs to meet identity, purity, and potency label claims. We take these results from third-party labs and summarize them in lot-specific Certificates of Analysis (C of A) that are freely available in the spirit of authentic transparency on the product pages on our website so consumers can make informed purchasing decisions. The C of A provides assurance that the claims made on the label accurately reflect the contents of the product inside the bottle. If interested, more information on our our commitment to independent, third party quality testing can be found at this link - https://nutrigold.com/pages/accountability
What is the best time of day to take Iron Gold?
Iron Gold is gentle and easy-to-digest and can be taken anytime, even on an empty stomach. However, as a matter of principle and in the interest of your health and safety, we encourage you to consult your healthcare provider prior to supplementation to determine what dosing schedule is best for your individual needs.
Can I take more than 1 capsule per day?
Iron Gold provides 18 mg of plant-based iron in each 1 capsule serving, meeting 100% of the FDA Daily Value for Iron. If you are interested in or considering taking a higher dosage, we ask that you do so only under the guidance and supervision of your healthcare provider.
Is Iron Gold safe during pregnancy?
To the best of our knowledge, our product should be safe for consumption by pregnant women because it provides gentle, plant-based iron that supports women’s health. That said, we must clarify that we consider women trying to conceive, already pregnant, or breastfeeding to be a vulnerable population and we strongly encourage you to talk to a qualified healthcare professional regarding use, benefits, and possible risks prior to supplementation.
What is a pullulan capsule? What is it made of?
Pullulan is a vegetable-derived, water-soluble polysaccharide produced through a natural fermentation process. Pullulan capsules are considered more natural than HPMC (cellulose) capsules because they are naturally derived from fermented tapioca. Unlike cellulose capsules, which are considered semi-synthetic and not permitted in certified organic products, pullulan is included in the USDA’s National Organic Program list of accepted ingredients for organic products.
Can I break apart the capsule and add the contents to liquid/food to consume?
All of our products are formulated to be taken as capsules and our purity and potency claims are based on the product being taken as recommended. We generally do not recommend breaking apart the capsules because it can introduce contaminants or otherwise compromise product potency and effectiveness.
Is Iron Gold suitable for children (under 18 years of age)?
Iron Gold is formulated for individuals over 18 years. Because children are considered a vulnerable population, we regret we cannot make any recommendations regarding the use of our products by or for children under the age of 18. We ask that you talk to your pediatrician or family practitioner about whether or not Iron Gold is suitable and safe for your child’s particular healthcare needs prior to supplementation.
Please be advised that, per 21 CFR 101.17(e)(1), “Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.”
