How do you read the iron amount on a label?

Iron labels are easy to misread, because the larger number you see first is usually not the amount of iron the body receives.

Why are there two numbers?

Iron in a product is not present as the bare metal but as a compound. The label therefore states the weight of the whole compound first, with the amount of elemental iron in brackets.

For example: iron amino acid chelate 36.50 mg (provides iron 7.30 mg). The 36.50 is the compound; the 7.30 is the figure to compare.

Which forms are common?

Forms seen often in Thailand include iron amino acid chelate, ferrous lactate, ferrous fumarate and ferrous sulfate. Each carries a different proportion of elemental iron per unit weight of compound, which is another reason the bracketed figure is the one that matters.

Is one form better than another?

The available evidence does not support declaring any one form superior for everyone. What can be compared plainly is the amount of elemental iron per serving, and how comfortable a given product is for the individual taking it.

How do you compare two products?

Look at three things in order. First, the elemental iron in brackets. Second, the number of tablets per serving, since some formulations reach the stated amount only across two. Third, the other nutrients included, such as vitamin C or folic acid, which change the overall picture of what a day's serving provides.

What is the percentage figure?

Some labels show a percentage against the Thai Recommended Daily Intakes. It gives a sense of what proportion of a reference figure one serving supplies. That reference is set for the general population, not as a personal target.

What is the one number to remember?

The number to remember is the one in brackets. The larger figure in front of it is the weight of the compound, not what the body receives.

Dietary supplements are not intended to prevent, treat or cure any disease.