Iron Bisglycinate

Mechanism of action

Iron chelated with two glycine molecules. The chelation protects iron through the digestive tract, improving absorption and dramatically reducing the GI side effects (constipation, nausea, dark stools) that plague ferrous sulfate. Bioavailability is roughly 2-3x better than ferrous sulfate. Iron is the central component of haemoglobin, myoglobin, and several cytochrome enzymes; deficiency produces fatigue, cognitive impairment, hair loss, and shortness of breath.

History

Iron supplementation has historically been dominated by ferrous sulfate due to cost, but the side effect profile drove many users to discontinue. The bisglycinate chelate (Ferrochel from Albion Laboratories) was developed in the 1990s specifically to address tolerability while maintaining absorption. Modern iron supplementation guidance increasingly favours the chelated forms despite the higher cost.

Benefits

• Iron repletion in deficient subjects

  EVIDENCEA

  Multiple trials show improvement in ferritin and hemoglobin.

• Cognitive function in iron-deficient women

  EVIDENCEB

  Murray-Kolb 2007.

• Reduced GI side effects vs ferrous sulfate

  EVIDENCEA

  Multiple comparison trials.

Side effects

• Constipation (rare with bisglycinate)raremild
• Dark stoolscommonmild

Cited research

• Iron bisglycinate bioavailability vs ferrous sulfate (Pineda)2001
  PMID 11556932 ↗
• Iron supplementation and cognitive function in non-anemic women (Murray-Kolb)2007
  PMID 17341711 ↗
• Iron deficiency and cognitive function: review (Beard)2001
  PMID 11160553 ↗

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