Iron Bisglycinate Dosage for 150-200 mg of Elemental Iron
To achieve 150-200 mg of elemental iron, approximately 600-800 mg of iron bisglycinate would be required, as iron bisglycinate contains approximately 25 mg of elemental iron per tablet.
Understanding Iron Content in Different Preparations
Iron bisglycinate (ferrous bisglycinate) contains significantly less elemental iron than other common iron preparations:
- Iron bisglycinate contains approximately 25 mg of elemental iron per tablet 1
- Ferrous sulfate (325 mg) contains 65 mg of elemental iron 1
- Ferrous fumarate (325 mg) contains 108 mg of elemental iron 1
- Ferrous gluconate (325 mg) contains 35 mg of elemental iron 1
- Polysaccharide-iron complex provides 150 mg of elemental iron per daily dose 1
Calculating Required Dosage
Since iron bisglycinate contains approximately 25 mg of elemental iron per tablet:
- For 150 mg elemental iron: 150 ÷ 25 = 6 tablets (600 mg iron bisglycinate)
- For 200 mg elemental iron: 200 ÷ 25 = 8 tablets (800 mg iron bisglycinate)
Clinical Considerations for Iron Supplementation
Dosing Recommendations
- Standard oral iron supplementation should provide 200 mg of elemental iron per day for adults, divided into 2-3 doses 1
- For pediatric patients, the recommended dose is 2-3 mg/kg/day of elemental iron 1
Absorption Optimization
- Iron absorption is improved when taken without food or other medications 1
- Alternate-day dosing may improve iron absorption compared to consecutive-day dosing 2
- Single daily dosing may be preferable to divided doses as divided dosing can increase serum hepcidin and reduce iron absorption 2
Common Pitfalls and Caveats
- Food consumed within 2 hours before or 1 hour after an oral iron supplement can reduce absorption by up to 50% 1
- Tea and coffee are powerful inhibitors of iron absorption and should not be consumed within an hour after taking iron 1
- Aluminum-based phosphate binders can reduce iron absorption 1
- Iron bisglycinate competes for the nonheme-iron absorption pathway, similar to ferrous sulfate 3
- While iron bisglycinate may have fewer gastrointestinal side effects than other iron preparations 4, it may not be as effective in treating iron deficiency anemia as ferrous sulfate in some patient populations 5
Alternative Considerations
- If oral iron is not tolerated or effective, intravenous iron should be considered, especially in cases of severe anemia, malabsorption, or active inflammatory bowel disease 1, 6
- For patients with difficulty tolerating oral iron, strategies include smaller more frequent doses, starting with a lower dose and gradually increasing, trying different formulations, or taking supplements at bedtime 1