Home Ingredients Ferractiv® (Iron Amino Acid Chelate — Biotron)
EnergyWomen's Health

Ferractiv® (Iron Amino Acid Chelate — Biotron)

Evidence Level
Limited
1 Clinical Trial
3 Documented Benefits
2/5 Evidence Score

Ferractiv® is an iron amino acid chelate from Biotron Laboratories, made by binding iron to peptides and amino acids from hydrolyzed soy protein. In one small 7-day company-run trial it caused fewer side effects than ferrous sulfate, and in animal and cell studies it was absorbed about as well as ferrous sulfate. As a chelated iron, it supports healthy iron levels, red blood cell formation, and the energy that depends on good iron status in people who are actually low in iron. Iron is not a general tonic, so confirm low iron with a ferritin blood test before supplementing.

Studied Dose The one published human trial of Ferractiv used 600 mg of the chelate, providing 25 mg of elemental iron, once daily for 7 days. Products commonly provide around 18 mg of elemental iron, or more if correcting a deficiency under medical guidance.
Active Compound Iron at 10 percent by weight, bound to low molecular weight peptides and amino acids from enzymatically hydrolyzed soy protein isolate.

Benefits

Healthy iron levels

Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells and oxygen transport; supplementing supports normal iron status in people who are low in iron. Iron-deficiency anemia is a medical diagnosis that a doctor should confirm and manage, and Ferractiv's own 7-day trial reported no differences in blood measures over that short period.

Supported by Trial 1

Energy and reduced fatigue

Because iron carries oxygen to tissues, restoring healthy iron levels helps reduce the fatigue and weakness of iron deficiency. That has been shown with ordinary iron salts in women with low ferritin, not with Ferractiv itself, and it applies only when you are genuinely low in iron.

Supported by Trial 1

Gentler, well-absorbed form

As an amino acid chelate, Ferractiv caused significantly fewer side effects than ferrous sulfate in a 7-day randomized trial in 60 premenopausal women run by the manufacturer. Absorption studies in mice and human gut cells found it taken up about as well as ferrous sulfate, not better.

Supported by Trial 1

Mechanism of action

1

Oxygen transport

Iron is the core of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

2

Chelated absorption

Binding iron to amino acids and peptides is proposed to shield it from other food components in the gut. In mice and human gut cells this chelate was absorbed at a similar rate to ferrous sulfate rather than better, though it appears less irritating than plain iron salts.

Clinical trials

1
Iron Amino Acid Chelate for Iron Status — Meta-Analysis
PubMed

Systematic review and meta-analysis of ferrous bisglycinate, a different amino acid chelate, on hemoglobin and ferritin. (Fischer et al. 2023, Nutrition Reviews)

Pregnant women (9 trials) and children (4 trials) were pooled; 4 trials in men and nonpregnant women were only described, not pooled.

In a review of 17 trials, ferrous bisglycinate raised hemoglobin and caused fewer digestive side effects than other iron supplements in pregnant women. Ferritin showed only a non-significant trend, and there was no difference in children. This tested ferrous bisglycinate, a different chelate from Ferractiv, so it is background evidence rather than evidence for this brand.

Side effects and drug interactions

Common Potential side effects

Can cause constipation, nausea, or stomach upset, though chelated iron is usually gentler.
May darken the stool, which is harmless. The chelate is made from hydrolyzed soy protein, so avoid it if you have a soy allergy.
Keep iron out of reach of children. US regulations require iron supplements in tablet or capsule form to carry the warning that accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. If a child swallows any, call a doctor or poison control center immediately; it is a medical emergency.

Important Drug interactions

Levothyroxine, antibiotics (tetracyclines, quinolones) — iron reduces their absorption; separate by 2 to 4 hours.
Antacids, calcium — reduce iron absorption; separate dosing.
Do not take extra iron unless a blood test shows you need it. Iron is not a general energy supplement, and unnecessary iron can accumulate and cause harm, particularly in people with hemochromatosis or other iron-overload conditions.

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Frequently asked questions about Ferractiv® (Iron Amino Acid Chelate — Biotron)

What is Ferractiv?

Ferractiv® is an iron amino acid chelate from Biotron Laboratories, made by binding iron to peptides and amino acids from hydrolyzed soy protein. In one small 7-day company-run trial it caused fewer side effects than ferrous sulfate, and in animal and cell studies it was absorbed about as well as ferrous sulfate.

What is Ferractiv used for?

Ferractiv is researched primarily for Energy and Women's Health. Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells and oxygen transport; supplementing supports normal iron status in people who are low in iron.

What is the recommended dosage of Ferractiv?

The clinically studied dose is The one published human trial of Ferractiv used 600 mg of the chelate, providing 25 mg of elemental iron, once daily for 7 days. Products commonly provide around 18 mg of elemental iron, or more if correcting a deficiency under medical guidance. Always follow the product label and check with a healthcare provider for personal advice.

Is Ferractiv safe, and does it have side effects?

For most healthy adults, Ferractiv is well tolerated at studied doses. Reported effects can include: Can cause constipation, nausea, or stomach upset, though chelated iron is usually gentler. May darken the stool, which is harmless. The chelate is made from hydrolyzed soy protein, so avoid it if you have a soy allergy. It may also interact with some medications. Ferractiv is not right for everyone, so check with a healthcare provider first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a medical condition, or take prescription medication.

Does Ferractiv interact with any medications?

Possible interactions include: Levothyroxine, antibiotics (tetracyclines, quinolones) — iron reduces their absorption; separate by 2 to 4 hours. Antacids, calcium — reduce iron absorption; separate dosing. If you take prescription medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor before using it.

How strong is the scientific evidence for Ferractiv?

NutraSmarts rates the evidence for Ferractiv as Limited (2 out of 5). It is backed by 1 clinical trial and 4 cited references summarized on this page. A higher rating reflects more, larger, and better-designed human studies.

References(4 citations)

Evidence ratings on NutraSmarts are based on the totality of human clinical research, with emphasis on randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews. The references below directly support claims made throughout this page.

  1. Fischer JAJ, Cherian AM, Bone JN, Karakochuk CD. The effects of oral ferrous bisglycinate supplementation on hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutr Rev. 2023;81(8):904-920..PubMedUsed to support: Meta-analysis of ferrous bisglycinate, not of Ferractiv. It found higher hemoglobin and fewer digestive side effects in pregnant women, a non-significant ferritin trend, and no difference in children. Ferractiv is a soy-derived multi-amino-acid chelate rather than bisglycinate, so this is background evidence for chelated iron generally.
  2. Fouad GT, Evans M, Sharma P, et al. A randomized, double-blind clinical study on the safety and tolerability of an iron multi-amino acid chelate preparation in premenopausal women. J Diet Suppl. 2013;10(1):17-28..PubMedUsed to support: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 60 premenopausal women taking 600 mg of the iron multi-amino acid chelate (25 mg elemental iron), 600 mg ferrous sulfate, or placebo once daily for 7 days. Significantly fewer participants reported side effects on the chelate than on ferrous sulfate, and no significant differences were found in any blood measure over the 7 days. The authors were affiliated with the manufacturer. This is the source of the tolerability claim on this page and the reason the blood-level claims are stated cautiously.
  3. Kajarabille N, Brown C, Cucliciu A, et al. Bioavailability of iron multi-amino acid chelate preparation in mice and human duodenal HuTu 80 cells. Br J Nutr. 2017;117(6):767-774..PubMedUsed to support: Bioavailability study of the Biotron iron multi-amino acid chelate in iron-deficient mice and in human duodenal HuTu 80 cells. The paper records that the material was prepared and supplied by Biotron Laboratories and contains 10 percent elemental iron chelated to low molecular weight peptides, polypeptides and amino acids from enzymatically hydrolysed soy protein isolate. Iron absorption was similar for the chelate and ferrous sulfate, and the chelate restored spleen iron better. Animal and cell evidence rather than a human trial.
  4. Vaucher P, Druais PL, Waldvogel S, et al. Effect of iron supplementation on fatigue in nonanemic menstruating women with low ferritin: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2012;184(11):1247-54..PubMedUsed to support: Multicentre randomized controlled trial in 198 menstruating women with fatigue, ferritin below 50 micrograms per litre and hemoglobin above 12.0 g/dL, given 80 mg elemental iron as ferrous sulfate or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Fatigue fell 47.7 percent on iron versus 28.8 percent on placebo (p=0.02). This used ferrous sulfate rather than Ferractiv, so it supports iron for deficiency-related fatigue at the nutrient level and supports checking ferritin before supplementing.