Iron Bisglycinate

[Dires]

I have been taking Nutravita iron bisglycinate 28mg x 2 tabs on alternate days for 3 1/2 months.

My ferritin levels were originally 50 and have only risen to 67.

I’m confused about the dose of the iron. Is 28mg of iron bisglycinate equivalent to 28mg elemental iron? Sue said the two tablets (equaling 56mg) are equivalent to 65mg elemental iron in ferrous sulphate because of the higher bioavailability.

I just need to be reassured that I am taking enough iron as the ferritin response seems slow

[SueJohnson]

Yes the 28 mg is the elemental iron. Since your ferritin did not raise by much I would take your tablets every day at the same time being sure to keep them 24 hours apart since once you take iron hepcidin is released which prevents absorption of iron for 24 hours.

You could also take 3 tablets which would be 85 mg of elemental iron. Anything over 85 mg is not effective.

[Dires in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you Sue. I’ll try taking them everyday.

I have got an appointment with Dr Thomas at the sleep clinic in Cardiff at the beginning of October so I’ll see what he suggests too.

[WideBody in reply to Dires]

I have been supplementing with oral iron for a long time. Ferrous Bisglysinate is my favorite form. A couple of things.

Shoot for 65mg of elemental iron, daily!

I read the article. Yes, if you supplement every other day, the amount of iron absorbed is greater. The total amount of iron taken in every other day is less. What's a better idea? Take Vitamin D! Vitamin D blocks hepcidin and hepcidin blocks iron absorption! There is a correlation between low iron and high Hepcidin!!

At one point I was taking 130mg of iron a day. Once at night, when I did it twice a day it caused gastric issues. The doctor suggested taking that amount once a day.

So in summary.

1) Take 3 tablets at night two hours before bed. Take at least 200mg of Vitamin C, more is probably better. Vitamin C will help the body absorb the iron.

2) Don't eat anything two hours before or one hour after. The iron will bind with the proteins in the stomach and cause gastric issues. In the beginning this is important, after awhile I was not so strict.

3) Take a large dose of Vitamin D with breakfast or Lunch. Vitamin D might affect sleep so it is best not to take with dinner. Vitamin D will help with Iron absorption. It has been harder for me to raise my Vitamin D than to raise my ferritin. I take over 10000IU of Vitamin D a day!

Above all, retest to make sure things are working as expected.

BTW, if you follow the rules per above, how are your RLS symptoms at night? If you can get by with two pills, then great, if not try 3 iron pills.

Good Luck.