Table of Contents
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Iron deficiency is a concerning situation that can lead to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnant women. Statistics from the World Health Organization in 2019 show that 37% of pregnant women aged 15–49 were anemic. This is an alarming figure, especially considering that iron deficiency has severe impacts on pregnant women. Iron is crucial to producing hemoglobin, the protein that carries blood to the body’s tissues. Therefore, iron is required for your and your fetus’ blood supply during pregnancy.
Iron deficiency can lead to weakness and fatigue in pregnant women, which can affect their ability to perform daily activities. Iron deficiency can also increase the risk of infections, as iron is crucial to maintaining a healthy immune system. These infections can further complicate delivery, causing issues like low birth weight, preterm labor, and slow postpartum recovery.
The fetus is not left out of the impact of the mother’s iron deficiency. Iron is critical for brain development. Therefore, its deficiency can lead to developmental issues and cognitive impairment. Birth complications caused by iron deficiency can result in further health issues and lead to extended medical care.
Iron deficiency can cause long-term growth, development, recovery, and overall health implications for the child and mother. So, having an adequate iron supply during pregnancy is not an option; it is a necessity. This article is a guide to help you choose the best iron supplement for pregnancy.
Should You Take Iron Supplements during Pregnancy?
Being pregnant is not an automatic license to take iron supplements in unguarded quantities. In fact, women with hemochromatosis, an iron allergy, or recent blood transfusions shouldn’t take iron supplements while pregnant. People with normal or high iron levels should also exercise caution when taking iron supplements during pregnancy.
Ideally, you should consult your doctor before starting iron supplements or any other supplements during pregnancy. You need iron supplements during pregnancy if
- you experienced significant blood loss before getting pregnant
- you are an athlete who often exerts high energy
- you eat vegetarian or vegan meals or have meal aversion during pregnancy
- you have celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, resections, hemorrhoids, or bariatric surgery, which may affect iron absorption.
Our Picks of the Best Iron Supplements for Pregnancy
- Overall Best Iron Supplement for Pregnancy: Thorne Iron Bisglycinate
- Best for preconception and postpartum: Needed. Iron for Prenatal, Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, Postpartum
- Best budget: CVS Health Ferrous Gluconate Iron 27 mg Tablets
- Best liquid iron supplement for pregnancy: Mary Ruth’s Prenatal and Postnatal Liquid Iron
- Best high dose: Nature Made Iron 65 mg Tablets
- Best slow release: Slow Fe Iron Tablets
- Best low-dose iron: Perelel Daily Iron Ease
TOTAL SCORE : 5.7 TOTAL RATING : 17- It is great for diverse people, including sportswomen.
- It is well-tolerated and can be easily absorbed
- It is gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free and also free of artificial colorings or flavorings
- It can cause gastrointestinal issues or allergies in some people
- It has a high elemental iron content, which can cause iron overload.
Thorne Iron Bisglycinate is a top iron supplement for pregnancy, featuring iron bis-glycinate (Ferrochel) in capsule form. Retailing at $14, it is affordable and widely available at Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
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TOTAL SCORE : 5.0 TOTAL RATING : 15- It is affordable and well-absorbed.
- It is ConsumerLab.com-approved and makes their top picks list as a good choice for a high-dose iron supplement
- There is a minimized risk of nausea and abdominal discomfort.
- It contains artificial colorings and preservatives.
- There is no verified research on the safety of one of its ingredients, red 40 Lake, in pregnancy.
Slow Fe is an iron sulfate tablet with a controlled delivery system for optimal absorption. Available at Target, Amazon, and CVS, it provides 45 mg of iron per tablet, taken once daily.
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TOTAL SCORE : 5.0 TOTAL RATING : 15- It is developed by a team of medical experts, including OBGYNs and registered dieticians.
- It is research-based and third-party tested. It is well-tolerated and highly absorbable.
- It also contains Vitamin C, B12, and magnesium, which aid with iron absorption
- It contains other vitamins, which may make you exceed the recommended intake of the nutrients.
- It is low-dose and cannot work for many pregnant women’s iron needs.
Perelel is a low-dose, 15 mg iron bis-glycinate supplement designed to complement iron intake without overloading. Taken once daily with food and water, it supports balanced iron levels for overall health.
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TOTAL SCORE : 5.0 TOTAL RATING : 15- It offers flexible dosage for varying iron needs. It is easily absorbable.
- It is suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Their website provides a dosing chart, making personalized dosage possible.
- There is no adequate information regarding its third-party testing.
- Authority bodies like the NSF, USP, or ConsumerLab.com do not certify it.
Iron supplements are essential before, during, and after pregnancy. Priced at $20 on Amazon, this iron bis-glycinate (Ferrochel) capsule supports immunity and fertility, especially for twin pregnancies. Dosage varies per healthcare provider’s advice.
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TOTAL SCORE : 5.0 TOTAL RATING : 15- Nature Made is a renowned and trusted supplement brand.
- It is third-party tested and has ConsumerLab.com approval and USP certification.
- It contains a high iron content. Therefore, many consider it the best iron supplement brand for twin pregnancies or other multiples.
- The ferrous sulfate in it can cause gastrointestinal discomfort for some people.
- It can cause iron overload if not properly regulated.
Nature Made Iron Supplement is a top choice for anemia during pregnancy. Each iron sulfate tablet contains 65 mg of iron. Take one tablet daily with a meal and water for best results..
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TOTAL SCORE : 5.0 TOTAL RATING : 15- It is budget-friendly and of good quality and accessible at CVS or online stores.
- It is comprehensively tested for contaminants, heavy metals, and microbes.
- It contains 100 tablets, making it one of the best iron supplements for pregnancy in the third trimester.
- It contains ferrous gluconate, which is less absorbed. The tablet may contain artificial coloring.
- Its gluconate form can cause gastrointestinal issues.
CVS Health Ferrous Gluconate is a budget-friendly OTC iron supplement for pregnancy, priced at $10 in CVS stores. It contains iron gluconate and is available exclusively in tablet form for easy accessibility.
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TOTAL SCORE : 4.7 TOTAL RATING : 14- It is in liquid form, which can make it more appealing to take.
- It is sugar- and allergen-free. It has undergone comprehensive third-party testing.
- It is highly absorbable and easily tolerated.
- There may be a dosing problem if you are not careful.
- It contains non-nutritive sweeteners like xanthan gum.
Mary Ruth offers a liquid iron supplement with iron bis-glycinate (Ferrochel), providing an alternative to traditional forms. It is suitable for use during pregnancy and lactation, ensuring easy absorption and convenience.
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Iron Supplement Dosage and Safety
The National Institutes of Health establishes the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for iron in pregnancy to be 45 mg. The Institute of Medicine, therefore, derived a Recommended Daily Allowance for Iron to enable people to meet their needed daily iron intake.
These RDAs are okay for 97% to 98% of healthy individuals. The RDAs differ due to people’s conditions and health situations. You must know your iron level before pregnancy to have a smooth journey.
The table below outlines the iron RDA for various categories of women.
| Category | Recommended Daily Intake |
|---|---|
| Women aged 19 to 50 | 18 milligrams/day |
| Vegan women aged 19 to 50 | 32 milligrams/day |
| Pregnant Women | 27 milligrams/day |
| Vegan pregnant women | 48.6 milligrams/day |
| Lactating Women | 9 milligrams/day |
| Vegan lactating women | 16.2 milligrams/day |
Why Trust Us
Vitamins for Woman is your partner in your health and wellness journey. Focusing on your well-being in your daily life, we are dedicated to supporting, guiding, and empowering you.
At Vitamins for Woman, we put you first, ensuring we only give you expert-reviewed information that empowers you to take charge of your life and pregnancy journey.
We recognize the unique challenges everyone faces. Therefore, we lend an empathic and understanding voice from our personal stories and inclusive information.
How We Choose the Best
Choosing the best supplement is not a sprint for us. Instead, we take our time to carefully curate the best supplements for your needs. By consulting our in-house experts and partnering with third-party professionals, we consider several factors closely. We value high-quality products, so we consider the composition, ingredient quality, testing, and certification and also compare the forms and dosage.
Also, we try to cater to different budgets and needs, so we review the prices and choose the best value for your money. Understanding that a high price does not equate to good quality, Vitamins for Women recommends the best quality for your money.
While we may not cover all grounds, we do well to be comprehensive and put you first. This is a comprehensive guide, but we recommend that you consult your doctor before taking any iron supplements during pregnancy.
Ingredients and Potential Interactions
Knowing an iron supplement’s ingredients and potential interactions will enable you to make the right choice during your pregnancy. You must make the following considerations before taking any iron supplement during pregnancy.
- Read the ingredient list and nutrition fact panel carefully to ensure they are relevant to your needs.
- Consider potential interactions with any medication or supplements you are already taking.
- Have necessary medical tests and consult with your healthcare provider when choosing an iron supplement during pregnancy.
- To prevent potential interactions, take your iron supplements separately from other medications, tea, coffee, and other vitamins or supplements.
- Separate your iron supplement intake from your thyroid medication intake by at least four hours to prevent iron intake from decreasing thyroid medication absorption.
- Enhance iron supplement absorption by taking it with vitamin C.
Your doctor can help you cover these grounds and choose a suitable supplement, but it helps to be informed yourself.
Types of Iron Supplements
Iron supplements come in various types, so it’s necessary to know them before making a choice. Iron supplements are broadly categorized as ferrous or ferric iron.
Ferrous iron, also known as heme iron, is mostly found in animal products. It is the most recommended iron type with an efficient absorption rate. Fortunately, many ferrous iron supplements are 100% vegan, despite being derived from animals.
Ferric iron supplements, on the other hand, have an absorption rate of 1% to 7%. It is also known as non-heme iron and can be found in plants and fortified foods. These iron types are further broken down into various forms, with elemental iron content being the fraction of interest. Knowing the elemental iron content in a supplement can help you understand how much iron you are taking.
- Ferrous sulfate: Ferrous sulfate is the most common form of iron used to treat iron deficiency. It is highly tolerable, effective, and low-cost.
- Ferrous gluconate: Ferrous gluconate contains about 12% of elemental iron and is suitable for treating IDA. You should not take it with dairy products or calcium supplements, as they can affect its absorption.
- Ferrous fumarate: Ferrous fumarate has a higher elemental iron content than others. It is great for people with high iron needs and is best taken on an empty stomach for better absorption.
- Heme iron polypeptide: Heme iron polypeptide is highly bioavailable, making it great for treating IDA. It rarely causes gastrointestinal issues.
- Iron bisglycinate: Known as the chelated form of iron, it is easily absorbable and has fewer side effects. It also increases the body’s ability to store iron.
With all these types of iron supplements, choosing one may be daunting. You must consider factors like gastrointestinal tolerance, the severity of your needs, absorption issues, dietary preference, and administration forms when choosing the right one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ferrous iron is the most advisable type for pregnancy. You can choose between ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, or ferrous fumarate.
Yes, you can take iron and folic acid together. In fact, many pregnancy supplements contain both of these elements, as they are equally essential for pregnancy.
Vitamins for Woman strongly recommends Mary Ruth liquid iron as the best liquid iron supplement for pregnancy. Developed by a team of OBGYNs focused on female fertility, it is suitable for every aspect of pregnancy, from preconception to postpartum. It is also accessible and comprehensively tested.
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