Whole food/buffeted vit c and iron absorption?

[owl87]

Hi everyone

I’m taking iron tablets at the moment and have been taking them with a 500mg dissolvable ascorbic acid tablet as I can’t swallow tablets but it’s causing me some problems with uncomfortable reflux in my throat. I have low stomach acid which I’m assuming is the cause of my iron deficiency so I was hoping the acidity of vit c would help as well as hold off iron side effects.

If I take something like acerola cherry powder instead or another form of buffered vit c is it likely to provide the same benefit for absorption or would it not be as useful? Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I take acerola cherry powder as my preferred choice of Vit C. I use Time Health and the non-organic powder has more Vit C than the organic powder.

[owl87 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you that’s very helpful to know!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

I am not entirely convinced by some of the discussion about vitamin C and iron.

I am sure that the ascorbic acid form helps with absorption of iron. But I have never seen definitive proof that buffered forms are as effective. If it is the acidity that helps to get the iron dissolved, then the buffered forms might be much less effective.

[owl87 in reply to helvella]

That was my concern - that it may be the acidity that helps to absorb iron by countering the low stomach acid and so the other forms wouldn’t be as useful. That does pose a bit of a challenge!