Frequently Asked Questions. .

• Women with periods
• Pregnant & postpartum women
• Athletes & endurance exercisers
• Restricted diets, inc. vegetarians
• Blood donors

Blood loss = iron loss = low iron = menstrual fatigue. Menstruation is the leading cause of iron, resulting in 1 in 4 women having low iron levels. Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron and energy levels to help combat tiredness and fatigue throughout a woman’s cycle.

Iron is essential to life. It contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. It plays an important role in normal energy metabolism, oxygen transport, cognitive function, immune function and formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin.

Active Iron is clinically proven to be 6X less likely to cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as constipation, nausea, and diarrhoea, than other irons on the market. 9/10 people say they continue to take Active Iron because they do not experience any side effects.

Iron supplements are normally dissolved in the stomach, where they oxidise and cause gastrointestinal side effects. Active Iron is encapsulated in a unique whey protein which helps bypass the stomach and target the body’s natural site of iron absorption, the small intestine, greatly reducing the risk of side effects.

Ledwidge et al. Data on file.

Iron supplements work best when taken on an empty stomach, so it is recommended to take your Active Iron tablet first thing in the morning. Active Iron should be taken 1 hour before meals, or 1-2 hours after a meal. If you have a particularly sensitive stomach, it may be best to take your iron supplements after a meal.

Many iron supplements recommend taking iron alongside a glass of orange juice, as Vitamin C acts as a natural enhancer of iron absorption. Active Iron’s superior formulation means that it does not need to be taken with such enhancers, although it is perfectly safe to be taken alongside a glass of orange juice if that is your preference. You should avoid taking Active Iron with milk, caffeine, or antacids (indigestion remedies).

Adults, pregnant women, the elderly, and children over 12 years:

One capsule should be taken daily. Do not exceed the daily dose without consulting your doctor or pharmacist. Remember, food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Some people may need to take regular iron supplements in addition to a healthy diet to maintain normal iron levels. As with all supplements, you should discuss with your health professional before using if you are under medical supervision, taking other medicines or if you suffer from food allergies. Those with the inherited condition haemochromatosis should avoid taking iron supplements, as haemochromatosis causes the body to store too much iron, which can be toxic. This condition is extremely rare, and can only be diagnosed by a medical professional.

Active Iron is better absorbed and better tolerated than other iron products.

Active Iron targets the body’s natural site of iron absorption, the DMT-1 in the small intestine. It is clinically proven provide 2X better iron absorption than other iron tablets on the market, working in tune with the body’s needs. Active Iron’s advanced protein formulation helps protect the stomach from the irritating effects of iron, reducing the likelihood of side effects by 6X.

Wang et al. 2017, Acta Haematologica, 138: 223-232. Ledwidge et al. 2021. Data on file.

Having the correct amount of iron depends on several factors such as gender, age, and diet.

• Men over the age of 18 need 8.7mg of iron a day.
• Women of childbearing age, between 19-50, need 14.8mg of iron a day.
• During pregnancy, the need for iron increases to 30mg a day.
• Menopausal women aged over 50 need 8.7mg of iron a day.

Yes, you can get iron from food, but iron comes in two forms, and diets high in non-haem iron can result in the body struggling to properly absorb it all.

Iron comes in two forms: haem and non-haem. Non-haem iron is found in plants, nuts and legumes. This is absorbed at a much lower rate and extent than haem iron, which is found in animal products such as meat, especially red meat.

Those on a vegetarian or plant-based diet may find that, although they are eating plenty of iron-rich foods, they are still prone to developing inadequate iron levels, due to the lowered absorption of non-haem iron in the body.

It’s important to remember that even if you are making a conscious effort to ingest more heme iron, by eating meat, other daily habits like drinking tea and coffee after your meals can reduce iron absorption.

Active Iron contains the recommended daily dose of iron for healthy adults. Those who benefit from taking Active Iron include:

• Women with periods
• Pregnant & postpartum women
• Athletes & endurance exercisers
• Restricted diets, inc. vegetarians
• Blood donors

Yes, you can get iron from food, but iron comes in two forms, and diets high in non-haem iron can result in the body struggling to properly absorb it all.

Iron comes in two forms: haem and non-haem. Non-haem iron is found in plants, nuts and legumes. This is absorbed at a much lower rate and extent than haem iron, which is found in animal products such as meat, especially red meat.

Those on a vegetarian or plant-based diet may find that, although they are eating plenty of iron-rich foods, they are still prone to developing inadequate iron levels, due to the lowered absorption of non-haem iron in the body.

It’s important to remember that even if you are making a conscious effort to ingest more heme iron, by eating meat, other daily habits like drinking tea and coffee after your meals can reduce iron absorption.

Yes, Active Iron is suitable during all trimesters of pregnancy. Iron needs are increased during pregnancy because your body uses iron to make extra blood to transport oxygen for the mother and her baby during this time.

Many iron supplements are known for causing side-effects such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and/or constipation. Since many pregnant women already experience gastrointestinal side effects, many worry about taking iron during pregnancy and worsening these symptoms.

Active Iron was specifically designed to reduce side effects. Due to its unique formulation, Active Iron is clinically proven to provide 2X better absoprtion* of iron sulfate than other oral irons on the market, while helping to reduce side effects by 6X.**

*Wang et al. 2017, Acta Haematological, 138: 223-232
**Ledwidge et al. Data on file

Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels by 94%* in 6 weeks, but many start to feel the benefits earlier than that.

*Ledwidge et al. Data on file

Yes, Active Iron is suitable to take pre, during and post-conception.

During pregnancy, the volume of blood in your body increases by up to 50%. Iron needs are increased because the body uses iron to make extra blood to transport oxygen for the mother and baby during this time.

Dietary iron requirements can increase to as much as 30mg per day of iron during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. This may mean supporting a healthy diet with iron supplements when daily iron needs cannot be met through diet alone.

However, food supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Also, you should not exceed the recommended daily supplement dose of iron without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Iron is used by the body’s muscles to help produce energy. Regular exercisers, especially those who enjoy endurance sports such as running, rowing, and cycling, often find they have an increased need for iron, and many turn to iron supplementation to keep these stores up.

Iron also contributes to oxygen transport in the blood, so maintaining optimal iron levels may result in increased aerobic capacity and all-round performance. Iron also contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, cognitive function, normal immune function and the formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin.

Yes, Active Iron is safe to take in pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

Yes, Active Iron is suitable for vegetarians. Vegetarians may benefit from taking an iron supplement if they cannot meet their iron requirements through diet alone. Although a vegetarian diet will be high in iron-rich foods, these plant-based sources of iron contain non-haem iron, which is poorly absorbed by the body. This may be coupled with other potential absorption obstacles such as phytates in whole grains and legumes or tannins in tea and coffee.

Yes, teenagers can take Active Iron. Young women beginning their period for the first time may find they need iron supplements to help restore the iron levels lost through menstruation. Active Iron contains 14mg of iron, the recommended daily dose for healthy adults. Where additional support is required, Active Iron Advance which contains 25mg of iron is also available.

Unfortunately, Active Iron is not suitable for vegans as it contains whey protein.

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Yes, as Active Iron is a food supplement (and not a medicine) it is suitable to take without consulting a GP. We recommend Active Iron only to those who are at risk of developing low iron levels (i.e those with regular periods, pregnant & postnatal, vegetarians, heavy exercisers).

The tannins in tea and coffee are notorious for inhibiting iron absorption. It is recommended keep a 1-2 hour buffer between taking iron supplements, or eating iron-rich foods, and enjoying a cup of coffee or tea.

Iron-rich foods include:

• Red meat
• Pork
• Poultry
• Beans
• Dark green, leafy vegetables
• Dried fruits
• Fortified cereals, bread, and pasta.
• Apricots
• Dried prunes and currants
• Dried raisins
• Dried pears
• Dried figs
• Dried apples
• Mulberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Strawberries
  

Beverages high in iron include:

• Spinach juice
• Pumpkin juice
• Beetroot juice
• Prune Juice
• Tomato juice
• Grape juice
• Pomegranate juice
• Apple juice

The aluminium foil protects the Active Iron capsule from light, moisture and air. This ensures that the last capsule is as fresh as the first.

As Active Iron is a food supplement, it is suitable to take consistently to increase/maintain iron levels.

Do not exceed the stated dose without first consulting with your doctor or pharmacist.

Some medications interact with any iron formulation (not only Active Iron) like Omeprazole or other medications that reduce stomach pH and reduce iron absorption. All iron forms (not only Active Iron) also reduce levothyroxine hormone absorption. In these cases, a gap of 2-3 hours is recommended between iron supplement and the other medication.

Active iron does not interact with contraceptive pills, hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) or multivitamins.

Our discount codes are only available for single packs. However, subscribing to our newsletter will give you 10% off all future purchases. We regularly send out exclusive discounts and offer codes through our newsletter, helping you save money.

This is now called Active Iron Women, the packaging was updated.

Iron saturation or transferrin saturation is measured as a percentage. It is calculated by dividing the amount of serum iron by total iron-binding capacity (TBIC) – serum iron concentration ÷ total iron-binding capacity.

A low transferrin saturation percentage may indicate low iron or iron-deficiency anaemia.

A high transferrin saturation percentage may indicate iron overload. Transferrin saturation is also called transferrin saturation index (TSI) or transferrin saturation percentage (TS%). Source: CDC Nutritional Report 2019.

The Active Iron carton is made from sustainably sourced wood and is 100% recyclable.

The aluminium blister packs are used to ensure Active Iron’s bio-availability. Check with your local recycling centre whether leaflets and aluminium blisters are currently acceptable for recycling.

Iron is stored mainly in the liver as ferritin or hemosiderin. The main regulator of iron storage is ferritin.

Ferritin can release iron if the blood has a low iron concentration and it can help to store surplus iron if the blood and tissues have a high iron concentration. The average male has about 1,000 mg of stored iron in their body while a female on average has about 300mg.

Active Iron contains a small quantity (about 18mg) of vitamin C which acts as a preservative within the formulation.

Vitamin C, if taken in large doses (250-500 mg), can improve the absorption of iron. However, the quantity of vitamin C in Active Iron is not enough to enhance absorption.

Active Iron has been clinically proven to ensure better absorption of iron*. There is no need to use an ‘enhancer’ like Vitamin C to boost absorption further. However, there is no issue if you wish to take Active Iron with a Vitamin C supplement or a glass of orange juice.

*Wang et al. 2017, Acta Haematological, 138: 223-232

There is an inherited condition called haemochromatosis where iron levels build up slowly over many years. Women with periods will have a slower build up than men, due to the regular iron loss from menstruation. There is no way of knowing you have this condition unless you have the genetic screening for it.

Active Iron is a low dose product (from 14mg to 25mg) that is 2X better absorbed compared to other iron supplements. We recommend Active Iron only to those who are at risk of developing low iron levels (i.e those with regular periods, pregnant, vegetarians, heavy exercisers) or have known low iron levels.

14mg of iron is the recommended daily allowance for iron set by the regulator (EFSA). 14mg would be considered safe based on daily intake for the average person. A tolerable upper limit of 45mg has been recommended for iron and this is based on tolerability of iron products.

Active Iron is a food supplement and not a medicine, meaning our products contain 100-179% of the recommended daily allowance of iron, whereas prescription iron has a higher dose. For example, prescription iron may contain 100mg elemental iron. The issue with high dose iron is that it oxidises in the gut and as a result, it is poorly absorbed (typically just 10% is absorbed). It is this oxidation and poor absorption that causes gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and constipation in 8/10 people. Typically, 50% of people stop taking iron as a result of these side effects.

Most liquid iron supplements contain a much lower dose of iron which is why they can avoid these common side effects. Although this is a great benefit, they often do not provide sufficient iron to increase iron levels with some only containing 5mg iron per serving.

Active Iron is different. Unlike other oral iron it’s whey protein formula protects the iron from oxidation allowing for 2X better absorption. As a result Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels by 94% and is gentle on the stomach, helping to prevent gastrointestinal side effects and allowing for 4X better compliance in taking the product.

Active Iron is clinically proven:

• 2X better absorption of iron sulphate
• Non-constipating formula that’s gentle on the stomach
• Increases iron levels by 94%
• Increase energy levels

• Active Iron 14mg – suitable for those who want to maintain their iron levels.
• Active Iron 25mg – suitable for those with low iron or those who cannot tolerate other iron tablets.
• Active Iron Women – contains Active Iron plus a specially tailored multivitamin. Complete nutritional solution for women.
• Active Iron Pregnancy – contains Active Iron and a special time-release multivitamin