Iron is an incredibly important mineral, essential for several biological functions. However, many of us do not get enough of it. Iron deficiency is extremely common and often leads to anaemia, which affects up to 1 in 4 people worldwide.¹ Women are particularly vulnerable, and even more so during pregnancy where the prevalence is 36% globally.²

Iron supplementation is therefore becoming more important, but choosing the right iron ingredient is not as simple as you might think. Traditional iron supplements containing iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumarate, fall short when it comes to absorption and tolerability.

So, where should you start? Balchem’s Oliver Riemann, Senior Marketing and Business Development Manager, Albion^® Minerals, explains why formulators should innovate with science-backed iron ingredients that ensure consumers get the full macro-benefits from this micronutrient.

Why is iron so important?

Before we dive in, it’s important to understand why iron is so important for us. Iron is essential for the transportation of oxygen around the body, so deficiency can have serious, detrimental effects in multiple areas including energy metabolism, immune health and cognitive function. This means that having insufficient iron prevents us from unleashing our full physical and cognitive potential, to become the best version of ourselves. But the human body doesn’t produce iron itself, so supplementation is key.

The battle against ‘anti-nutrients’

Even if we consume the recommended amount of iron, or other minerals, we may not be getting the most out of them. So called ‘anti-nutrients’ in our diets, such as phytates, can bind to minerals – including iron – in inorganic salt forms, inhibiting absorption and reducing bioavailability. Phytates are prevalent in nuts, seeds and legumes, components particularly common in plant-based diets. This means that when developing supplement formulations, protecting minerals from ‘anti-nutrients’ to enhance absorption is key.

At Balchem Human Nutrition and Health, our Albion® Minerals products shield against ‘anti-nutrients’ through chelation. This process binds minerals to the amino acid glycine, protecting them from the external environment and limiting interference from ‘anti-nutrients’. In fact, our Ferrous Bisglycinate, a chelated form of iron, demonstrates significantly greater bioavailability, with up to five times greater absorption, compared to conventional iron forms.³

Compliance is king

Another challenge when developing iron supplements is that traditional iron salts may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, potentially reducing compliance. Ferrous Bisglycinate, however, allows efficient and digestive-friendly uptake akin to absorbing minerals through proteins in our diet. This means it has far greater tolerability compared to traditional iron salts, with a 64% reduction in adverse gastrointestinal events seen in pregnant women.⁴

Discover Ferrochel®: the science-backed iron ingredient you can trust

Albion Minerals’ Ferrochel is the most studied brand of Ferrous Bisglycinate on the market. Ferrochel carries our TRAACS® co-brand, which marks exceptional chelates that are extensively validated by Albion, the brand with the longest history of analytical data, ensuring unique accuracy. We continue to drive innovation in this space, through collaborations with industry experts and universities.

Albion Minerals’ Ferrochel is the ideal source of Ferrous Bisglycinate to guard against iron deficiency. Together with our wider portfolio of chelated minerals, including Magnesium Bisglycinate, Calcium Bisglycinate and Zinc Bisglycinate, we provide a powerful portfolio backed by over 160 publications, with decades of science and clinical research. All of this means we can support brands in creating products with enhanced bioavailability and high tolerability that help consumers reach their full potential.

Ready to learn more?

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