✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
Updated: 2026-05-29 · v2.0 · Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhDCiteEditorial
2
Conditional
Iron Bisglycinate
Ferrous bisglycinate chelate
Conditionally SafeStrongTrace Minerals
RDA
15–25 mg elem. Fe
Target
Ferritin, Hb, TSAT per Iron entry
Upper limit
45 mg
Products
9
Dosage by population group — reference
🔗 Best with: Vitamin C, Folate, Vitamin B12✅ USP Verified, NSF Contents Certified, Clean Label Project Certified
⚠ 2–4× absorption vs ferrous sulfate [1]
⚠ Can take WITH food (unlike ferrous sulfate) [1]
⚠ GI side effects dramatically reduced vs sulfate — better compliance [2]
⚠ Ferrochel: patented, most studied [1]
🥗 Food first — build your daily 15–25 mg elem. Fe
Check the foods you regularly eat — the bar fills toward your daily target.
0 mg
Check your regular foods above
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
See main Iron entry
Reference range / target
Ferritin, Hb, TSAT per Iron entry
When to test
[2]
May need lower doses than ferrous sulfate targets [1].
Full lab monitoring ↓
⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Iron bisglycinate is the preferred iron form: 2–4× absorption, far fewer GI side effects, minimal food inhibitor interaction, and can be taken WITH food. Ferrochel is the gold-standard patented chelate. Lower doses (25 mg) may equal higher-dose ferrous sulfate (60+ mg) for Hb response with better compliance [1] [2].
1 Am I deficient?
Not applicable0%

What happens as status declines

Not applicable
Not an essential nutrient [1].

Risk factors

• Not applicable — not an essential nutrient [1]
🧬 How Iron Bisglycinate works ▼
This form delivers elemental iron — essential for hemoglobin and myoglobin oxygen transport and as a cofactor for many enzymes — chelated to two glycine molecules. The chelate is absorbed by a route less affected by dietary inhibitors and causes less gastrointestinal upset than ferrous sulfate, improving tolerability when treating deficiency.
2 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Preferred pregnancy iron form (tolerability + absorption) [2].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
Well-tolerated. Used in pediatric iron deficiency [2].
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose

How to take

🍽 Timing: Any time — with or without food [1].
💊 With food: Can take with food (unlike sulfate) [1].
🚫 Avoid: See main Iron entry for iron overload contraindications [2].
3 Which form?
FormBioavailabilityVeganCost
['Iron bisglycinate chelate (Ferrochel)', 'preferred', 'Patented chelate. Most studied form. 25–50 mg elemental Fe [1].']StandardCheck label
['Iron bisglycinate + vitamin C', 'preferred', 'Vitamin C enhances even bisglycinate absorption [2].']StandardCheck label
4 Common questions
Why bisglycinate over ferrous sulfate? ▼
Two reasons: (1) 2–4× better absorbed, so you need less; (2) dramatically fewer GI side effects (less constipation, nausea, cramping) [1] [2]. The glycine chelate protects the iron from interacting with GI mucosa and food inhibitors.
Can I take it with food? ▼
Yes — unlike ferrous sulfate (which needs empty stomach for best absorption), bisglycinate can be taken with food without significant absorption loss. This is a major convenience advantage [1].
Is Ferrochel the best brand? ▼
Ferrochel is the patented, most-studied iron bisglycinate chelate. Generic 'iron bisglycinate' products may vary in chelation quality. Ferrochel provides assured chelation [1].
5 Clinical evidence

Strong

2–4× absorption vs ferrous sulfate in direct comparison studies [1]. Significantly fewer GI side effects vs ferrous sulfate (multiple trials) [2]. Less interaction with phytates, tannins, calcium [1]. HIGH

Moderate

Pregnancy anemia: iron bisglycinate at lower doses achieved comparable Hb increase to higher-dose ferrous sulfate with fewer side effects [2]. Children: well-tolerated in pediatric iron deficiency [2]. Food fortification: used in flour/cereal fortification in developing countries [1]. MODERATE

Insufficient

Head-to-head outcome trials vs other chelated forms (fumarate, gluconate) [2]. LOW
6 Safety, toxicity & adverse events

Absolute contraindications

✕ Iron-overload disorders (hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, thalassemia with overload)
✕ Accidental pediatric iron overdose is a leading cause of poisoning deaths — keep away from children

Relative

⚠ Active infection — caution (iron and pathogen growth)
⚠ Separate from levothyroxine, tetracyclines, quinolones, antacids and calcium
⚠ Peptic ulcer/IBD — may irritate

🚩 Red flags

● See main Iron entry — all iron supplementation contraindications apply [2]
7 Interactions

Drug interactions

See main Iron entry — but LESS affected by food inhibitors See iron
Mechanism: Chelate structure protects from phytate/tannin/calcium binding [1].
Effect: Better absorption even with food [1].
Action: Can take with food; still separate from tetracyclines/quinolones [1].

Supplement synergies

Vitamin C · 100–200 mg vitamin C with iron
Further enhances iron absorption [2].
8 Laboratory monitoring
See main Iron entry Primary
Target: Ferritin, Hb, TSAT per Iron entry · [2]
9 Regulatory
United States (FDA): GRAS (Ferrochel). Dietary supplement [1].
WHO: Iron bisglycinate recommended for food fortification in developing countries [1].
10 US supplement products
9
on-market products containing Iron Bisglycinate (NIH DSLD)

Brands carrying Iron Bisglycinate (1)

Click a brand to see its Iron Bisglycinate products.
Or browse all 9 products in one list →
Iron Bisglycinate vs Vitamin CIron Bisglycinate vs Folate
11 References (2)
[1]Duque X, et al. Effect of supplementation with ferrous sulfate or iron bis-glycinate chelate on ferritin concentration in Mexican schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(5):1288-1293. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1288 REVIEW Accessed: 2026-05-29
[2]Name JJ, et al. Iron bisglycinate chelate and polymaltose iron for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia: a pilot randomized trial. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2018;14(4):261-268. doi:10.2174/1573396314666181002170040 RCT Accessed: 2026-05-29
12 Related articles
📰 Article — news.gmj.ge📰 Article — news.gmj.ge📰 Article — news.gmj.ge📰 Article — news.gmj.ge
Auto-populated from GMJ Newsroom. Articles tagged "Iron Bisglycinate".
13 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Iron Bisglycinate — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Jun 01]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/iron-bisglycinate/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Iron Bisglycinate — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/iron-bisglycinate/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: December 2026
References: 2 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Iron Bisglycinate — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/iron-bisglycinate/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG