Carbonyl Iron is essentially pure iron (98%) unlike most other irons which contain iron salts such as iron fumerate and iron glucanate. Traditional medicinal forms of iron, such as iron salts are poorly absorbed. Absorption is often less than 1% of the amount present, and the unabsorbed iron causes other problems such as constipation (especially in pregnancy), or less commonly looseness can result.

Unlike iron salts, elemental iron is virtually non-toxic. It is an essential trace element with a long history of safe use in foods and medicines.

Iron is used by the body to transport oxygen, and to enable the body to breakdown (oxidise) food components such as starches, sugars and fats to release energy (calories). Iron is also the essential component of haemoglobin in the red blood cells, which carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. People with iron deficiency often tend to feel chronically tired, lacking in energy, and even depressed. nIron deficiency is one of the worlds commenest nutritional deficiencies. The 1997 National Nutrition Survey found that 4% of NZ teenage males (15-18) and 6% of females had sufficiently depleted iron stores to cause iron deficiency anaemia (low haemoglobin level). In older NZ women, 4% of 19- 24 years had iron deficiency or low iron stores, and 10% of 25-44 years had either low iron stores, or anaemia or iron deficiency. In a country like NZ it's hard to believe that iron deficiency could be an issue, with our reputation of being big meat eaters. Yet the evidence is that inadequate iron intake is really quite common here. That is why taking an iron supplement like Carbonyl Iron could be of benefit to you.