Ferrochel® Chelated Iron
Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate
Ferrochel® is a unique, fully chelated iron product formed by binding iron to two organic glycine molecules.
Ferrochel®’s small molecular size allows it to remain intact throughout the G.I. tract for optimal absorption.
In clinical research comparing inorganic iron to Ferrochel®, study participants reported significantly fewer instances of gastrointestinal upset with Ferrochel® than with ferrous sulfate.
Discover the Power of Ferrochel®
As a leader in specialty mineral nutrition, Balchem® is proud to offer Ferrochel®, an iron chelate, which has been clinically demonstrated to show better bioavailability than traditional iron salt forms and have been shown to possess high tolerability.
Iron to Power Your Performance
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional gaps in the world. Many health-conscious consumers practice two behaviors that can increase daily iron requirements making it that much more challenging to meet your needs – engaging in regular physical activity and consuming a plant-based diet.
Brands have an opportunity to help athletes meet their nutritional needs by creating new food, beverage, and dietary supplement products featuring iron.
Click the link below to read our latest research study on Ferrochel®.
Ferrochel® Attributes
Compared to inorganic iron, Ferrochel® (Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate) is more bioavailable and causes less gastric upset. The many unique attributes of Ferrochel® support its superior role as an iron supplement in humans.1
Stomach Friendly
Less gastric upset
Safe
Safer than typical iron salts
Bio Available
Easily absorbed
Stable nutrients
Less prone to interact with other nutrients
Neutrally charged
A small, stable molecule with neutral ionic charge
Iron is an essential mineral and its primary role is to serve as a major component of hemoglobin and myoglobin – proteins found in red blood cells and muscle tissue that help transport and deliver oxygen. Iron also plays important roles in:
- Growth & development during childhood and adolescence
- Supporting exercise performance and muscle metabolism
- Maintaining healthy immune function
Despite these incredibly important roles, inadequate intakes and deficiency of iron are common concerns for nearly all ages in the United States. The CDC states that nearly 7% of children aged 1-5y in the United States are estimated to have iron deficiency. On average, adult women (age 19y+) consume ~25% less iron per day than men in their diets, with nearly 20% of adult women (age 19-50y) not getting enough iron from foods and beverages alone.
Research
About our Research
Furthermore, it is estimated that there are over 6 million adult women in the United States with iron deficiency – which is higher than the populations of Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Delaware, and Montana…combined. Even among older adults, the concern is still high, as the prevalence of anemia among Americans over age 65y is more than 10%, with nutritional deficiencies being thought to be responsible for ~1/3 of cases.
The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans lists Iron as a “Nutrient of Public Health Concern” specifically for infants 6-11 months, adolescent females aged 14-18y, and women who are pregnant.
How can our solutions help?
Fortunately, we have ways to help consumers get more iron in their diets: food fortification and supplementation are effective tools to increase nutrient intake. However, fortification can be challenging as formulators often face a balancing act between application performance and bioavailability, particularly in beverages where maintaining the solubility of fortified minerals can be difficult.
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s guidance on food fortification with micronutrients is that when choosing the right iron product to fortify a food or beverage, the main considerations include minimizing sensory changes, interactions with other nutritional components of foods, and bioavailability. Very few iron forms check all these boxes.
Balchem’s Ferrochel® is our flagship Iron Bisglycinate Chelate product which has demonstrated these benefits across multiple scientific studies. It has:
- Excellent performance in applications
- Limited interactions with other nutritional components
- Proven bioavailability
Nutrition Complexity
Nutrition can be more complex than simply consuming additional nutrients in your diet. The foods we eat contain many components, some of which may interfere with mineral absorption. So-called Anti-Nutrients include compounds like phytic acids and oxylates, and are commonly found in plant-based foods such as nuts, grains, and seeds.
Phytates in particular can have a significant impact on iron absorption – just 10 mg of phytate can decrease iron absorption by 60% in human trials. Phytates can have a negative impact on commonly used sources of iron as well, such as iron sulfate.
Even desirable components of foods can function as an anti-nutrient: calcium in milk has been shown to reduce iron absorption. This interference is thought to be one reason why clinical testing shows that just ~3-5% of iron in milk fortified with iron sulfate is absorbed in human subjects.
Iron for Growing Minds
Maternal prenatal nutrition and the child’s nutrition in the first 2 years of life (1000 days) are crucial factors in a child’s neurodevelopment and lifelong mental health. Although all nutrients are necessary for brain growth, iron is considered as one of the key nutrients that support neurodevelopment.2
Ferrochel® offers superior absorption and tolerability, making it ideal for children.
As it is a fully reacted chelate and therefore neutrally charged it even prevents from absorption inhibition through phytates making it also the perfect iron source for vegetarians and those on plant-based diets. It’s suitable for all ages, minimizing side effects like nausea and constipation.
Delivery Applications:
- Tablets
- Capsules
- Powders
- Food and Beverages
- Chewables / Gummies
- Infant Formulas
- Prenatal Formulas
Notice
You are now leaving the Balchem Corporation website and linking to a non-affiliated third Party site.