Iron Bisglycinate

Iron is essential for energy, vitality and concentration. It supports the formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, which carry oxygen around the body, helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue. Iron also contributes to normal immune function and supports brain performance, making it one of the most important minerals for everyday health.

Low iron levels can cause persistent tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, cold hands and feet, brittle nails or hair loss. Some people may also notice poor concentration or frequent infections. Women of childbearing age, vegetarians and those with heavy periods are particularly prone to low iron.

For most adults, the recommended daily intake is around 14 mg of elemental iron. However, therapeutic doses for diagnosed deficiency may be higher and should only be taken under medical supervision. It’s best not to exceed the dose on your supplement label unless advised by your doctor, as excess iron can build up in the body.

Iron can irritate the stomach when taken without food, and tends to irritate the colon for the first few weeks until it adapts. This is partly caused because it makes changes to the gut flora, feeding various bacteria, so it’s helpful to take a probiotic at the same time as iron supplements in order to help counteract this effect. Forms like ferrous sulphate are more likely to cause nausea, constipation or stomach cramps. Gentle, bioavailable forms such as iron bisglycinate or iron citrate are much easier to absorb and kinder on the stomach. Taking iron with food can also help.

Yes. Iron should be taken only as directed, as excessive intake can be harmful. Keep out of reach of children — iron overdose can be dangerous for young children. If you suspect your child may have taken iron supplements, take them to hospital immediately. 

Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, but if that causes discomfort, take it with a meal. Avoid taking it at the same time as tea, coffee, calcium or high-fibre foods, as these can reduce absorption. Pairing it with Vitamin C — such as a glass of orange juice — can help your body absorb more iron effectively.

The best iron supplements provide high absorption with minimal digestive side effects. Iron bisglycinate is widely regarded as one of the most gentle and effective forms, offering excellent uptake without constipation or nausea. Look for supplements made in GMP or BRC-accredited UK or EU facilities, and ideally are fully chelated to leave absolutely no elemental iron in the supplement. VitaBright iron tablets contain fully reacted Core Chelate, the purest and gentlest form of iron bisglycinate available. 

VitaBright supplements are produced in state-of-the-art, BRC accredited grade AA, UK manufacturing facilities. We manufacture to GMP standards - the same as pharmaceutical medicines - which means our process involves batch testing, rigorous record-keeping, and inspections by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). We use only the finest ingredients sourced from leading global suppliers, double seal all bottles, and have ingredients independently tested for heavy metals to further guarantee our supplement quality or safety.

Generic iron bisglycinate refers to any iron supplement in which iron is chemically bound to two glycine molecules to improve absorption and reduce stomach irritation compared with standard iron salts such as ferrous sulphate. However, the quality, purity, and stability of these generic versions can vary depending on the manufacturer. There is normally some unreacted iron - in other words, elemental iron - which can cause digestive upset or oxidation. 

Core Chelate® is a patented, clinically validated form of iron bisglycinate produced using a proprietary chelation process that ensures each iron ion is fully bonded to the amino acid glycine in a stable 1:2 ratio. This improves bioavailability and removes all unreacted, elemental iron that could otherwise cause irritation to the gut. In short, Core Chelate offers verified molecular structure, superior absorption, and higher manufacturing standards compared with unverified generic forms.

VitaBright iron tablets are made using pure Core Chelate iron bisglycinate.