IronIs taking iron every other day better than every day?
Updated 9 Nov 2026
Short answer
It may be absorbed better. In iron-depleted young women, 14 doses of 60 mg taken every other day gave a higher share absorbed than 14 doses taken on consecutive days (21.8% against 16.3%).[1] A daily dose kept hepcidin, the hormone that limits absorption, higher.[1]
In a 2025 review of 11 trials with 1,014 people with iron deficiency anemia, daily and every-other-day doses raised hemoglobin about the same. The certainty of this evidence was very low.[2]
Sources (2)
- Iron absorption from oral iron supplements given on consecutive versus alternate days and as single morning doses versus twice-daily split dosing in iron-depleted women: two open-label, randomised controlled trials. Stoffel NU, Cercamondi CI, Brittenham G, Zeder C, Geurts-Moespot AJ, Swinkels DW, et al. Lancet Haematol, 2017. PMID 29032957
- Efficacy of daily versus alternate day oral iron supplementation for management of anaemia among general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dhanvijay AD, Patidar V, Singh J, Kumar S, Mudgal SK, Varikasuvu SR, et al. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol, 2025. PMID 40841680
More about iron
What is iron?Which foods contain iron?How long does it take for iron supplements to work?What is iron used for?What are the signs of iron deficiency?Is iron safe?For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.