Thorne Iron Bisglycinate

Most of the body's iron is found in hemoglobin‚ the oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells. Smaller amounts are found in the tissues as myoglobin and as cofactors for many enzymes. Because of its central role in the hemoglobin molecule‚ iron is essential for formation of red blood cells.

To determine the iron status of persons in the United States‚ the Centers for Disease Control calculated the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron-deficient anemia from data collected from physical exams and household interviews within a sample of the U.S. civilian‚ non-institutionalized population. The prevalence of iron deficiency was greatest among toddlers‚ ages 1-2 years (7%)‚ and menstruating adolescent and adult females‚ ages 12-49 (9-16%).

An iron deficiency can manifest as weakness‚ fatigue‚ shortness of breath on exertion‚ dizziness‚ tinnitus‚ spots before the eyes‚ drowsiness‚ irritability‚ infrequent menstruation‚ and loss of libido.

Athletes need approximately 1.5 times as much Iron as non-athletes. Those who follow a vegetarian or lower protein diets may have needs as high as 1.8 times as much dietary iron. Blood loss from injury and muscle damage, as well as GI bleeding associated with extreme endurance activities can further decrease the body's iron stores.

Conventional iron supplementation‚ including forms such as ferrous sulfate‚ can cause GI side effects – including nausea‚ vomiting‚ constipation‚ diarrhea‚ and dark-colored stools – because these conventional forms are poorly absorbed.

Thorne Iron Bisglycinate provides elemental iron reacted with glycine for superior absorption in the GI tract‚ thus preventing the typical GI side effects.