Iron amino acid chelate versus iron sulfate

[Guest guest]

I received this email recently about iron amino acid chelate being iron

sulfate.  The email had the name of the person giving the erroneous

information, so it has been omitted to protect the guilty party.

" I remember once talking to " MOM " about the pre natal iron amino acid chelate

and she said because they're " iron sulfate " they wouldn't be absorbed.  Is

the iron amino acid chelate form you're talking about " sulfate " or some other

form of iron? "

I think the confusion comes from the fact that there is not a clinical

definition for the ingredients of a prenatal vitamin.  I noticed that some of

the prenatal vitamins sold at Walmart contained iron sulfate.  Other and

better brands use iron amino acid chelate.  Just because some prenatal

vitamins use iron sulfate does not mean that iron sulfate and iron amino acid

chelates are one and the same.  They are not.  Iron in the form of iron amino

acid chelate comes in a dipeptide molecule consisting of one part iron and

two parts amino acid.  Since it is a very small molecule, it can slip into

the inner intestinal tract without being broken down by digestive action. 

Iron in the form of iron amino acid chelate is the most highly absorbable

form of iron supplementation.  That is why the better prenatal supplements

use it.

Ray Hooks

For WLS nutrition info, visit

http://www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com