OptiFer Alpha uses heme iron — the form found in meat — rather than the mineral salts most iron supplements are built on. 11 mg per tablet, 30 tablets. The distinction is worth understanding before you compare it against cheaper options. Heme versus non-heme iron Dietary iron comes in two forms. Non-heme iron, from plants and from most supplements (ferrous sulfate, fumarate, gluconate), is absorbed via a pathway that's easily blocked — by tea, coffee, calcium, phytates in grains and legumes, and antacids. Heme iron, bound within a porphyrin ring as it is in meat, is absorbed by a different route that's far less affected by what else is in the meal. That's the practical argument for it: fewer timing restrictions, and typically better tolerated in the gut, since unabsorbed iron salts sitting in the intestine are what cause much of the constipation and nausea people associate with iron tablets. Why 11 mg looks low but isn't Standard iron supplements often list 65 mg or more of elemental iron, which makes 11 mg look modest by comparison. The figures aren't directly comparable — a much smaller proportion of non-heme iron is actually absorbed. Judge iron products on how your ferritin responds over time, not the number on the label. The 30-tablet size A month's supply at one daily. Sensible for a first purchase, a short top-up course, or trying heme iron before committing. The 90-tablet bottle is better value if you're on a longer course. Read before you start Have your iron levels tested first. Ferritin and a CBC from your doctor will confirm whether iron is actually the issue — fatigue has many causes, and iron deficiency has its own underlying causes worth investigating rather than just topping up. Excess iron accumulates in the body with no efficient route out. Keep out of reach of children. Accidental iron ingestion is among the leading causes of poisoning deaths in children under six. If a child swallows any, call the Ontario Poison Centre at 1-800-268-9017 immediately. Speak to a healthcare professional first if you have haemochromatosis, another iron-overload condition, or take other medication — iron interacts with several, including thyroid medication and some antibiotics. Contains a meat-derived ingredient, so not suitable for vegetarians or vegans. Store cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.
