Iron + Vitamin C (120 capsules)

Vetain’s Iron with Vitamin C is a new product in the field of vegan dietary supplements. The capsules combine high-quality iron and vitamin C with a sustainable, vegan lifestyle and turn taking supplements into a statement.

Our iron bisglycinate plus vitamin C is a high-dose iron supplement with 45 mg of iron per capsule that is well tolerated and highly bioavailable. And anyone who has ever taken iron supplements (especially high-dose iron) knows how quickly stomach discomfort and more can occur. We didn’t want that — so we invested a lot of energy, time and expertise to develop the best iron supplement for us: Vetain’s Iron with Vitamin C.

If you’re currently looking for a supplement and wondering which iron tablets are the best, our customers would immediately say: Vetain’s Iron with Vitamin C capsules — at least we hope so! ;)

Our product at a glance:

• Pure: gluten-free, GMO-free, no unnecessary fillers or additives
• Vegan: free from gelatin and lactose, and cruelty-free — iron can be different
• 45 mg iron and 250 mg vitamin C per capsule
• High bioavailability: combination of plant-based iron with vitamin C to support absorption
• Gentle on the stomach: iron bisglycinate is a well-tolerated form of iron
• Lab-tested: our capsules are tested in an independent laboratory
• Made in Germany: the “Iron with Vitamin C” capsules are produced in Germany

Curious? If you’ve decided to buy iron tablets, you can get started right away. Feel free to browse through our other supplements and complete your nutrient routine.

Iron and vitamin C occur naturally in your diet.

Iron sources (plant-based and animal-based):

• Beef, veal, liver (especially beef liver)
• Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, white beans
• Poultry (chicken, turkey)
• Tofu, tempeh and soy products
• Fish such as tuna, sardines, salmon
• Pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds
• Quinoa, millet, oats, whole grains
• Spinach, kale, broccoli, beetroot
• Dried apricots, dates, prunes
• Pistachios, cashews, almonds
• Eggs

Vitamin C sources:

• Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons
• Acerola, sea buckthorn, blackcurrants
• Red bell pepper, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts
• Kiwi, strawberries, mango, pineapple
• Parsley, spinach, tomatoes, cauliflower

Why should you take a vitamin C and iron supplement at all, if you can get these nutrients daily through your diet? There are several reasons. For one, our diets are very individual, and some people simply don’t manage to eat enough vitamin-C-rich foods every day. In addition, plant-based iron is less bioavailable than animal-based iron because it is present in a different form. So if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet, it’s more challenging to meet your iron needs. Some people also have an actual iron deficiency or are at risk of developing one (sending warm greetings to all the women out there!). There are therefore many situations in which iron capsules with vitamin C in supplement form can be useful.

Since some people only know iron from the hardware store and associate vitamin C with lemons, let’s clear things up. Vitamin C and iron are two important micronutrients that perform numerous functions in the body. They are found in many foods and are therefore part of a balanced diet. The DGE (basically the nutrition queen of Germany) has established reference values for both nutrients, showing how much should be consumed daily. This highlights how essential iron and vitamin C are for your body.

The function of iron:
Iron contributes to
...normal cognitive function,
...normal energy metabolism,
...normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin,
...normal immune system function,
...and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue.

Who’s missing in the iron-and-vitamin-C duo? Right, vitamin C!
The function of vitamin C:
Vitamin C contributes to
...normal immune system function,
...normal collagen formation for healthy skin and teeth,
...normal nervous system function,
...normal psychological function,
...and the protection of cells from oxidative stress.
In addition, vitamin C also increases iron absorption.

Maybe hemoglobin and oxidative stress don’t ring a bell — but less fatigue and a normal immune system definitely do. These two nutrients play a role in many aspects of your daily life. Doesn’t our iron with vitamin C suddenly sound even better?

Why should you take iron and vitamin C together? Does it turn into some kind of magical potion, like the ones you used to mix in the garden out of herbs and mud? Well… kind of. We’ll leave the magical part as it is — the mud, however, we’ll skip. ;)

Iron is often combined with vitamin C because vitamin C improves the absorption of iron in the body. It converts iron into a different form (from ferric iron to ferrous iron), which the body can absorb more easily. This helps iron become more bioavailable. This is especially important when it comes to plant-based iron, which is less bioavailable than iron from animal sources.

Tip from the Vetain editorial team:
If you follow a plant-based diet, you can pair plant-based iron sources with vitamin-C-rich foods to improve absorption. Spinach with a glass of orange juice, hummus with a splash of lemon, or kale with some crunchy bell pepper — those are the combos you need.

When it comes to supplements, it works like this:
You can either take an iron supplement with a glass of orange juice or a mandarin, take two separate supplements (iron and vitamin C) — or simply choose a convenient combo product: iron with vitamin C in one capsule or tablet. This way, you can be sure you’re getting the most out of your iron supplement — even when there’s no orange juice in the house. Vetain’s iron bisglycinate with vitamin C does that for you.

How should you take iron with vitamin C? And when? And with what? So many questions — we’ve got the answers:

Iron tablets – When should you take them?
The best time to take your iron with vitamin C is in the morning before breakfast. We recommend taking iron on an empty stomach, about 30 to 60 minutes before your first meal. But if that causes stomach discomfort, you can simply take the supplement with breakfast. Important! Unfavorable combinations: coffee, black tea, milk, or calcium and zinc supplements can inhibit the absorption of iron with vitamin C. If possible, leave at least two hours between them.

Iron tablets – How to take them
Taking iron tablets is super easy. Simply take one capsule daily with a large glass of water. That way, you also support your hydration — win win! And please remember: the recommended daily intake must not be exceeded.

Iron before or after eating?
Both are possible! You can take your Vetain iron with vitamin C either 30–60 minutes before or about two hours after a meal. This gives your stomach enough space and makes it ready for a dose of iron.

As you can see: taking iron isn’t as complicated as it sometimes seems. And if you still have questions about how to take iron with vitamin C, feel free to contact our customer support anytime.

When you first begin your iron-with-vitamin-C supplement journey, you quickly run into one problem: there are seemingly a thousand different forms of iron — and every supplement uses a different one.

But which one is the best? Let’s take a look:

1. Ferrous sulfate
   → High iron content (approx. 20% elemental iron).
   → Advantages: inexpensive, effective, well-studied.
   → Disadvantages: frequent side effects, often poorly tolerated.
2. Ferrous gluconate
   → Lower iron content (approx. 12%).
   → Advantages: better tolerated than sulfate, fewer stomach issues, good bioavailability.
   → Disadvantages: lower iron content; slightly more expensive.
3. Ferrous fumarate
   → Approx. 33% elemental iron.
   → Advantages: high iron content, good absorption.
   → Disadvantages: may irritate the stomach; tolerability varies individually.
4. Iron bisglycinate
   → Very stable structure that protects the iron from oxidation and interactions in the gut.
   → Advantages: excellent bioavailability, very well tolerated, minimal stomach issues, hardly any interactions with other minerals.
   → Disadvantages: more expensive to produce.

For us, the choice was clear: in our iron capsules with vitamin C, we use iron bisglycinate! This gives us high bioavailability, great quality and excellent tolerability — exactly what matters most to us at Vetain. We’re happy to accept the higher production cost — are you?