What does the evidence show about Iron's effects?

Read Off Label rates the evidence for Iron as Strong and the benefit magnitude as high, producing an overall grade of B- (6.2/10). Supplementation without laboratory assessment can miss iron overload or non-iron causes of symptoms.

What safety findings are reported for Iron?

Iron has a med-high risk profile in the database. Med-High (excess is pro-oxidant; hemochromatosis concern) Legal status: OTC.

What does the low Safety score for Iron represent?

The Safety score is 3.5/10. It records the substantial harms described for one or more use contexts; the Benefit score, indication, dose, route, duration, population, and legal status remain separate parts of the evidence profile.

What doses or routes are reported for Iron?

8 mg/day men; 18 mg/day premenopausal women; supplementation evidence is strongest for documented deficiency (ferritin/TIBC) This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.

Rankings / Essentials — Vitamins & Minerals

Iron

Essentials · Mineral

Tier B-

High-risk evidence profile

Reviewed by Read Off Label · Last reviewed Jun 8, 2026 · How we grade

mineralotc

High-risk evidence profile

6.2 / 10

Tier B-

Ev 8 Bn 8 Sf 3.5

Bottom line

Read Off Label grades Iron as B- (6.2/10) based on strong evidence, high benefit magnitude, and a med-high-risk safety profile.

Its high-risk evidence profile reflects a Safety score of 3.5/10; reported benefits and harms can differ by indication, dose, route, duration, and population.

Supplementation without laboratory assessment can miss iron overload or non-iron causes of symptoms.

Studied, labeled, or reported-use context: 8 mg/day men; 18 mg/day premenopausal women; supplementation evidence is strongest for documented… — OTC; not individualized guidance.

Citation correction in progress

1 PubMed link was found to be unrelated to this entry and removed from public output. The remaining sources are shown below, but this row's claims and score still need a full source-by-source revalidation.

What the evidence says

Supplementation without laboratory assessment can miss iron overload or non-iron causes of symptoms. Iron overload accelerates aging and CV disease. Men and postmenopausal women rarely need supplementation.

Mechanism

Hemoglobin/myoglobin oxygen transport; electron transport chain; cofactor for many enzymes

Studied, labeled, or reported dose & route

8 mg/day men; 18 mg/day premenopausal women; supplementation evidence is strongest for documented deficiency (ferritin/TIBC)

This records doses and routes described in studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use. It is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety; context changes with indication, formulation, health history, monitoring, and other medicines.

Citations

A link means the source informed this entry; it does not mean every claim on the page comes from that source. If a citation looks wrong or you want a claim re-checked, send a correction.

Common questions

What does the evidence show about Iron's effects?: Read Off Label rates the evidence for Iron as Strong and the benefit magnitude as high, producing an overall grade of B- (6.2/10). Supplementation without laboratory assessment can miss iron overload or non-iron causes of symptoms.
What safety findings are reported for Iron?: Iron has a med-high risk profile in the database. Med-High (excess is pro-oxidant; hemochromatosis concern) Legal status: OTC.
What does the low Safety score for Iron represent?: The Safety score is 3.5/10. It records the substantial harms described for one or more use contexts; the Benefit score, indication, dose, route, duration, population, and legal status remain separate parts of the evidence profile.
What doses or routes are reported for Iron?: 8 mg/day men; 18 mg/day premenopausal women; supplementation evidence is strongest for documented deficiency (ferritin/TIBC) This is context from studies, approved labeling, clinical practice, or documented use; it is not individualized guidance and does not establish safety.
How does Iron work?: Hemoglobin/myoglobin oxygen transport; electron transport chain; cofactor for many enzymes

This is an independent synthesis of published research by a non-clinician. Scores are opinions supported by citations, not prescriptions. See the full disclaimer and methodology for how this score was produced and what it does and doesn't mean.