What it is & primary uses
An essential mineral in hemoglobin, myoglobin and many metabolic enzymes.
Main benefits
- Corrects iron deficiency when the cause and dose are properly established.
- Iron can be harmful when status is adequate or overload is present.
Studied protocols
Research doses are grouped by outcome. They describe study designs—not a personal prescription.
8–18 mg/day total intake for most adults; treatment is clinical
- Study duration
- Daily; deficiency treatment may require clinician-directed dosing and monitoring
- Interpretation
- Strong for nutritional adequacy; not evidence that high-dose supplementation improves outcomes in already-replete people.
04Food sources & equivalents＋
Can food provide a studied amount?
Red meat, shellfish, legumes, fortified grains and leafy greens can provide related dietary exposure, but food and extract milligrams are not automatically interchangeable.
Dietary exposure; verify composition before comparing with a studied supplement dose
- How this was estimated
- Dose Radar compares the declared active ingredient with official composition data or the studied standardized extract—not with marketing names.
- Important limitation
- Natural content, preparation, bioavailability and formulation vary. This comparison does not prove equal physiological effect.
Food equivalents compare ingredient mass using published composition values. They do not prove equal absorption, formulation, physiological effect, safety or personal need.
Source: NIH ODS Iron fact sheet ↗05How to take it for absorption & tolerance＋
Empty stomach optional
Fasting may change absorption or speed of onset, but tolerance and the studied formulation take priority.
- Practical approach
- Empty stomach if tolerated; separate from competing minerals. Keep the formulation and daily total consistent with the evidence context shown above.
- Watch for
- Levothyroxine
Meal guidance reflects human pharmacokinetic, clinical, official-label or evidence-review sources where available. A food pairing can change absorption or tolerability, but does not make a supplement necessary, effective or safe for every person.
Source: NIH ODS Iron fact sheet ↗06Supplement interaction check＋
An unlisted pair means no established pair-specific interaction was identified in this review—not proof that every dose, product or person is safe.
This is not proof that every dose, product or user context is safe. Medication and condition checks still apply.
07Research notes＋
Strong evidence for the stated context. Strong for nutritional adequacy; not evidence that high-dose supplementation improves outcomes in already-replete people.
The strongest use is meeting a physiological requirement or correcting documented inadequacy. More than needed does not create a proportional benefit.
08Scientific references＋
Peer-reviewed human research and formal evidence reviews. Open each source to inspect the complete paper record.
NIH ODS Iron fact sheet
Dose context: 8–18 mg/day total intake for most adults; treatment is clinical
Defines physiological roles, intake targets, upper limits, deficiency contexts and major safety considerations.
Iron: live PubMed review search
Dose context: Ingredient-specific human literature; dose and formulation vary
This live index supports source verification. A new paper does not change the Dose Radar grade until its design, population and formulation are reviewed.
09Expert & media references＋
Podcast and practitioner statements are clearly separated from research. They may explain practice or emerging ideas, but do not prove efficacy.
Dose Radar will leave this lane empty rather than invent or infer a professional opinion.