Should I take iron supplements with vitamin C?

Yes, taking iron supplements with vitamin C can boost absorption by up to 30%, whether from foods like orange juice, strawberries, or red peppers, or from a 50-75 mg vitamin C tablet.

Should I take iron supplements with food or without?

An empty stomach provides maximum absorption, but if you experience nausea or cramps, taking iron with a small meal that includes vitamin C whilst avoiding calcium and phytates is a reasonable compromise.

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Can I eat this with Iron supplements?

Iron absorption is heavily influenced by dietary components, with some foods enhancing uptake by up to 30% whilst others reduce it by 60-70%.

Also sold as AacuFer, AadFer, ActiFerr-F, ActiFerr-G, ActiFerr-S, Afermate, Feospan, FerroDose-F, FerroDose-G, FerroDose-S, FerroEss, FerroNorm and 9 more. Brand names from the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices.

Type any food below for an instant verdict — we check 58 foods and drinks for Iron supplements (30 to avoid, 15 to take care with) — or tap one below.

Quick answers

Should I take iron supplements with vitamin C?: Yes, taking iron supplements with vitamin C can boost absorption by up to 30%, whether from foods like orange juice, strawberries, or red peppers, or from a 50-75 mg vitamin C tablet.
Should I take iron supplements with food or without?: An empty stomach provides maximum absorption, but if you experience nausea or cramps, taking iron with a small meal that includes vitamin C whilst avoiding calcium and phytates is a reasonable compromise.

Grounded in the checker below and the full guide. Not a substitute for your pharmacist.

1 · What do you take?

Iron supplementsalso ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate

Iron absorption is heavily influenced by dietary components, with some foods enhancing uptake by up to 30% whilst others reduce it by 60-70%.

Take iron supplements with vitamin C-rich foods or drinks to significantly improve absorption. Avoid tea, coffee, dairy products, and calcium-fortified foods for at least one to two hours before and after your dose, as these substantially reduce iron uptake. If you take other medications such as levothyroxine or antibiotics, separate them from iron by at least two hours.

Read our full Iron supplements guide →

2 · What do you want to eat or drink?

Tap a food to see the answer, or type any food or drink in the box above.

Foods to avoid with Iron supplements· 30

Take care with Iron supplements· 15

Fine with Iron supplements· 13

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This checker summarises published guidance (NHS medicine pages, patient information leaflets and drug labels) for general information only. It is not medical advice, it is not exhaustive, and it cannot account for your dose, kidney function, other medicines, or health conditions. Always follow your prescriber, pharmacist, or the patient information leaflet — especially before changing what you eat or drink. See our editorial policy.

Each medicine on its own page

Medicines in this group with a page of their own, each with what its own NHS page says about food.

Foods to avoid with Ferrous sulfate

Food groups that matter with Iron supplements

Every medicine each one affects, on one page.

Affected by the same foods as Iron supplements.