Nature Made Iron 65 mg (325 mg Ferrous Sulfate) Tablets, 180 Tablets
by Nature Made
Price Analysis
Product Details
Nature Made Iron 65 mg: standard ferrous sulfate, for use under a doctor's advice
Nature Made Iron 65 mg is the classic over-the-counter iron tablet: 325 mg of ferrous sulfate, which supplies 65 mg of elemental iron. A 180-tablet bottle costs about $7 on Amazon and has a 4.7-star average from around 58,500 reviews. It's USP Verified, so an independent lab has checked that the tablets contain what the label says.
This is a treatment dose
65 mg of elemental iron is above the 45 mg a day upper limit that the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements sets for adults. That doesn't make it a bad product. Ferrous sulfate at this strength is what doctors commonly recommend to treat diagnosed iron deficiency. But it means this is a tablet to take because your doctor told you to, after a blood test, not something to add to your routine because you feel tired.
Your body can't easily get rid of extra iron, and taking it when you don't need it can cause harm over time. Low iron also has a cause, and in men and post-menopausal women especially, a doctor will want to find it.
Keep it away from children. Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Store the bottle up high with the cap secured.
What you get
Nature Made's directions are one tablet daily with water and a meal. The listing says the tablets are gluten free with no synthetic dyes or artificial flavors. Supplements aren't FDA-approved before sale.
Ferrous sulfate commonly causes constipation, nausea, dark stools and stomach cramps. Taking it with food helps some people, though it slightly lowers absorption. Keep it apart from calcium, dairy, antacids, tea and coffee, and ask your pharmacist about timing if you take thyroid medication or antibiotics.
Who it's for
- Adults with diagnosed iron deficiency whose doctor has recommended an over-the-counter ferrous sulfate tablet
- People who want the cheapest, most studied form of iron
Who should skip it
Anyone who hasn't had a blood test. Anyone with hemochromatosis. People who've had bad side effects from ferrous sulfate before; ask your doctor about a gentler form instead.
Alternatives
Thorne Iron Bisglycinate has 25 mg of iron per capsule in a form many people find easier on the stomach, and it's NSF Certified for Sport. It costs more per day.
Read iron, B12, or vitamin D: which supplement for energy for how iron deficiency differs from other causes of fatigue, and the best vitamins for energy and tiredness for our other picks.