Formula · 8.7

Brand · 8.2

Solgar · bisglycinate (chelate) · US

Solgar Gentle Iron 25 mg

Solgar Gentle Iron 25 mg
8.7

LabReadAI label score

How the score is calculated
  • Effect and evidence1.0Effect supported by studies
  • Absorbed dose vs reference intake1.0139 % of the intake per serving; by the absorption curve — 100 % of what the intake would deliver
  • Completeness for the purpose0.6For “iron deficiency” — 57 %; without vitamin C — non-haem iron absorbs less; could be added without conflict: vitamin c; a broad formula across 4 purposes
  • Safety and purity1.0No excess doses or debatable ingredients; excipients: 3
  • adults
  • without testscheck the level first
  • pregnancyask a doctor
Free from:
  • artificial sweeteners · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “acesulfame potassium, aspartame, sucralose” group — a calorie-free sweetener, usually paired with sucralose or aspartame for taste. Permitted, a preference question.
  • colorants E102/E120/E150 · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “caramel colour, carmine, tartrazine” group — a brown colour from caramelised sugar: it tints syrups and coatings and does not affect the action.
  • carrageenan · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “carrageenan” group — a thickener from red seaweed. It is permitted but debated: in animal studies the degraded form irritated the gut, so people with inflammatory bowel disease are sometimes advised to avoid it. For food-grade carrageenan there is no such proof.
  • gelatin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “gelatin (capsule)” group — capsule shell of animal gelatin (usually bovine or fish) — not for vegetarians; for halal/kosher the source must be confirmed with the maker
  • soy lecithin · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “soy lecithin” group — an emulsifier from soy: it binds fats with water and keeps a capsule from separating. With a soy allergy it is a reason to check the list.
  • titanium dioxide (E171) · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “titanium dioxide (E171)” group — white coating pigment; banned as a food additive in the EU since 2022, permitted in Russia and the US
  • gelatin in the coating · by the listthe list has no ingredient of the “vegetarian coating” group — a plant-based tablet coating instead of gelatin; it keeps moisture out and makes swallowing easier
What for: Anaemia comes from a lack of iron, folate or B12 — a blood test shows which. A complex does the job if it has iron, folate and B12; vitamin C improves iron absorption, copper is rarely needed. Iron is not taken without a test.
When:
  • morning
  • on an empty stomach
in the morning on an empty stomach or with vitamin C; not with calcium, tea or coffee
When to expect an effect: haemoglobin — 2–4 weeks, ferritin — 2–3 months
What is normal: dark stools, mild nausea, constipation

Ingredients — 4 components · 1 works

What works: 1 of 4 ingredients: iron. Anaemia comes from a lack of iron, folate or B12 — a blood test shows which. A complex does the job if it has iron, folate and B12; vitamin C improves iron absorption, copper is rarely needed. Iron is not taken without a test.

Strengths: effect and evidence, absorbed dose vs reference intake, safety and purity

What lowers the score: completeness for the purpose: for “iron deficiency” — 57 %

Questions: no debatable ingredients in the formula

  • Supplement Facts label wording · the heading of the label’s facts table — the per-serving numbers follow
  • Serving Size 1 Vegetable Capsule label wording · serving size: how many tablets or capsules count as one serving; all numbers below are per serving
  • Iron (as iron bisglycinate chelate) 25 mg works · the active ingredient — what the product is for; form: bisglycinate (chelate)
  • Other Ingredients: Microcrystalline Cellulose base: coating, fillers · filler that gives the tablet its bulk
  • Vegetable Cellulose base: coating, fillers · filler that gives the tablet its bulk
  • Vegetable Magnesium Stearate base: coating, fillers · tablet-pressing lubricant; contains negligible magnesium, not counted as the element; in powders — a slip agent; does not clog pores

Solgar Gentle Iron 25 mg is iron as bisglycinate (chelate): 25 mg per serving of 1 capsule. That is 139 % of the adult daily intake, within the upper level for supplements (45 mg). The form absorbs well and usually does not loosen stools. The formula has 4 ingredients, 1 of which does the work; the rest is coating and fillers. Anaemia comes from a lack of iron, folate or B12 — a blood test shows which. A complex does the job if it has iron, folate and B12; vitamin C improves iron absorption, copper is rarely needed. Iron is not taken without a test. By the list, no artificial sweeteners, colorants E102/E120/E150, carrageenan, gelatin, soy lecithin, titanium dioxide (E171), gelatin in the coating. Suitable for: adults. without tests, pregnancy — ask a doctor. children, haemochromatosis — not without a doctor. Use: in the morning on an empty stomach or with vitamin C; not with calcium, tea or coffee. When to expect an effect: haemoglobin — 2–4 weeks, ferritin — 2–3 months. Label score — 8.7 out of 10 (for “iron deficiency” — 57 %; without vitamin c — non-haem iron absorbs less; could be added without conflict: vitamin c; a broad formula across 4 purposes). Supplemental iron is taken for a confirmed deficiency; contraindicated in hemochromatosis. The upper guide is 45 mg/day. A restatement of the norms, not an assessment.

Who it does not suit

  • childrenonly if prescribed
  • haemochromatosisdo not take

When to stop: abdominal pain, vomiting; do not take without a confirmed deficiency

Per the maker's leaflet: Supplemental iron is taken for a confirmed deficiency; contraindicated in hemochromatosis. The upper guide is 45 mg/day. A restatement of the norms, not an assessment.

Is this supplement right for you?

The score describes the product, not you: whether you need this magnesium, iron or vitamin D is decided by your blood tests. Tell us about yourself, upload your CBC and blood chemistry, answer a few questions — we will go through every ingredient by its chemistry and biology and say whether the product suits you and at what dose.

Supplement matchDecode my tests