Healthy Blood Function*

Delivers (per 5 mL Serving):

  • 20 mg Iron (as Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate)

Optimize Early-Life Health with ChildLife® Clinicals Liquid Iron.

Key Benefits*

  • ENCOURAGES healthy red blood cell formation
  • OPTIMIZES energy for healthy activity levels
  • PROVIDES daily iron needs in a bioavailable gentle form
  • SUPPORTS healthy growth rate and development

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Purpose: To provide clinicians with technical information to determine if the supplement in question is appropriate for their patient.  

Liquid Iron

ChildLife® Clinicals Liquid Iron is a liquid form of supplemental iron, which provides 20 milligrams ferrous bis-glycinate chelate per 5 milliliters serving.

Role of Iron

Iron is an essential mineral utilized in various processes throughout the body. Iron is found within proteins such as hemoglobin, and myoglobin, and acts as a cofactor for many reactions.1

Hemoglobin, the iron-containing protein found in red blood cells, transports oxygen for use throughout the body. Iron is stored by the body in the form of ferritin, for use when needed.

Iron Requirements in Children

Children are particularly sensitive to iron conditions. The Reference Daily Intake values (RDI’s) for iron, as specified in Title 21, of the Code of Federal Regulations for foods and supplements, are based on intake recommendations by the Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine.2 The daily amount is set by age group. For infants to 12 months of age, the daily amount is 11 mg per day, whereas for children 1-3 years the daily amount is 7 mg per day. For children 4 years and older, the daily amount is 18 mg per day.2

Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide. The groups at greatest risk include pregnant women, infants and young children, due to their increased need during periods of growth.3

If an iron deficiency is not recognized and corrected in time, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) may develop. Symptoms include fatigue, pallor, dizziness, weakness, and potential cognitive impairment.3

When dietary intake alone is insufficient to meet iron requirements, supplementation is advisable. 

Iron Supplementation

Common types of iron supplements today are ferrous salts and amino acid chelates. The amino acid chelates are comprised of two amino acids and iron, while ferrous salts are ionic compound forms.

Supplemental iron may cause gastrointestinal disturbances such as mucosal irritation, and constipation at high doses.4  The gastrointestinal complaints from ferrous bisglycinate supplementation, were significantly less than other forms of supplemental iron, in a study on iron supplementation during pregnancy.5

In a study on 300 preterm infants, ferrous bisglycinate chelate had a fourfold higher bioavailability compared to iron sulfate.6 When combined with phytate, a known iron inhibitor, ferrous bisglycinate showed greater absorption, due to its preservation in chelate form throughout the gastrointestinal tract. 7

Toxicity

Toxicity due to accidental overdose of supplemental iron is a serious concern. The tolerable upper limit (UL) given for a healthy child is 40 mg/day iron.8 Proper dosages are crucial for any iron supplementation to avoid toxicity. The proper supplemental dosage for a patient depends on their medical history. Current blood tests should be reviewed, prior to recommending dosages beyond daily intake needs.

References: 

  1. Berdanier, C. D. et al. (2008). Advanced Nutrition: Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Metabolism. United States: CRC Press.
  2. FDA Food Labeling Nutrition Labeling of Foods, 21 C.F.R. § 101.9 (2019).
  3. WHO (2001). Iron Deficiency Anaemia: Assessment, Prevention and Control. Retrieved from                 https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/anaemia_iron_deficiency/en/
  4. National Institute of Health. Office of Dietary Supplements (2019). Iron. Retrieved from                          https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/IronHealthProfessional/#en5.
  5. Milman N. et al. (2014) Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial. J. Perinat. Med, 42:197–206. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2013-0153.
  6. Bagna, R.. et al. (2018). Efficacy of Supplementation with Iron Sulfate Compared to Iron Bisglycinate Chelate in Preterm Infants. Current pediatric reviews, 14(2), 123–129. doi:10.2174/1573396314666180124101059
  7. Allen, LH (2002) Advantages and Limitations of Iron Amino Acid Chelates as Iron Fortificants. Nutrition Reviews, 60(7) S18-S21.
  8. Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board (2011). Summary Tables. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK56068/