Hema-Plex Iron Complex | 42.5 mg | with Full Absorption Support | 60 Capsules | NaturesPlus

NaturesPlus Iron Complex 42.5 mg is a mineral supplement in a bottle of 60 capsules, a formula built around iron together with what accompanies it to support its absorption and support red blood cell formation. The word complex in this product's name carries its literal meaning, because iron is among the hardest minerals to move across the intestinal wall, and its usefulness is measured not by the amount swallowed but by the amount that actually reaches the blood. It suits anyone whose diet is short on iron-rich sources, and anyone working with a physician to support their stores.

What is iron?

Iron is an essential transition metal whose biological role comes from its ability to move between two oxidation states, picking up an electron and handing it on. That same property is what makes it indispensable for oxygen transport and for the cellular respiration chain, and it is also why the body never lets iron travel free in the blood, keeping it bound to a protein at every stage of its journey. The body has no efficient route for clearing surplus iron, so it regulates entry at the intestinal gate rather than at any exit.

Benefits of iron

• Oxygen transport: iron sits at the centre of the heme molecule inside haemoglobin, the exact site oxygen binds to.
• Red blood cell formation: iron takes part in red cell maturation within the bone marrow.
• Energy production: iron-sulphur clusters sit inside the electron transport chain in the mitochondria.
• Oxygen within muscle: iron is built into myoglobin, which stores oxygen in muscle tissue.
• Mental focus: steady iron stores are associated with supporting alertness and clarity of thought.
• Hair and nail health: fast-renewing tissues depend on a steady oxygen supply.

How iron works in the body

Iron is governed by the tightest control system of any mineral. At the intestinal gate, ferric iron is reduced to the ferrous state before it can cross through the divalent metal transporter into the intestinal cell, and from there it is either stored inside the ferritin protein or released into the blood. In the blood iron never travels loose but rides on transferrin to the bone marrow and liver. The liver hormone hepcidin controls how much is released from the intestinal cell into circulation, closing the gate when stores are sufficient and opening it when they run low.

What sets this formula apart

NaturesPlus Iron Complex rests on the premise that iron alone is not enough, so the formula pairs 42.5 mg of iron with companions that support its absorption, in a bottle of 60 capsules. The reason is that iron faces two obstacles on its way: a chemical one, since it crosses only in its ferrous state, and a dietary one, since tannins in tea and coffee and phytic acid in grains bind to it and block its passage. This is where the gap appears between heme iron from animal sources, which crosses by a dedicated route, and non-heme iron, whose passage depends on the environment of the meal around it.

Who is this product for?

• Anyone whose diet is short on iron-rich animal sources.
• Anyone tracking their iron stores with a physician who needs dietary support.
• Anyone in endurance sport where red cell turnover runs higher.
• Anyone who prefers a companion formula to iron on its own.
• Anyone who drinks a lot of tea and coffee with meals and wants a supported source.

How to use

Take Iron Complex at the amount printed on the bottle or as a physician directs, preferably alongside a dietary source of vitamin C such as citrus, because an acidic environment keeps iron in the ferrous state that can cross. Leave at least two hours between it and tea, coffee or dairy products, since tannins and calcium both obstruct iron absorption. Iron should not be taken without an established need, because the body does not clear its surplus easily.

Product details

• Form: capsule.
• Dose: 42.5 mg iron.
• Formula: iron with absorption-supporting companions.
• Count: 60 capsules.
• Brand: NaturesPlus, United States.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between heme and non-heme iron?

Heme iron comes from the heme ring in animal sources and crosses the intestinal wall by a dedicated route largely unaffected by the rest of the meal, while non-heme iron crosses through the divalent metal transporter and is affected by whatever food accompanies it. With non-heme iron, then, what it is taken alongside genuinely matters.

Why is iron recommended with vitamin C?

Vitamin C keeps iron in its ferrous oxidation state, the only state in which the intestinal transporter will carry it into the cell. A simple dietary source of vitamin C alongside the meal serves that purpose.

Why separate iron from tea and coffee?

The tannins in tea and coffee bind the iron ion in the gut lumen and form an insoluble compound with it that leaves the body unabsorbed. A gap of no less than two hours is therefore left between the supplement and those two drinks.

Cautions

• Not intended for pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• Not intended for anyone under 18 years of age, and to be kept out of the reach of children.
• Iron should not be taken without an established need; consult a physician before starting and when taking long-term medication.
• Leave two hours between it and zinc or calcium supplements, which compete for absorption.
• Not a substitute for a balanced diet.