According to the CDC, approximately 10% of U.S. women between 12-49 years of age are iron deficient, leading to symptoms such as fatigue and muscle weakness¹

MANCHESTER, NH (September 21, 2017) – MegaFood, a leader in the natural supplement industry, today announces that its award winning Blood Builder iron supplement has been clinically proven to increase iron levels in individuals with low iron*†. The study, commissioned by MegaFood, was conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine over an eight-week period. At the end of the trial, study participants revealed increases in iron stores, decreases in the severity and frequency of fatigue, and no reports of gastrointestinal adverse events, such as nausea or constipation, typically associated with iron supplementation^*†. According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the world’s most common nutrient deficiency.²

“Iron is absolutely critical to some of the body's most basic functions, such as the transport of oxygen to our cells, the production of energy, the synthesis of DNA and healthy brain function^*,” says Tieraona Low Dog, M.D, an internationally recognized expert in the fields of integrative medicine, herbal medicine and dietary supplementation, and author of National Geographic’s Fortify Your Life: Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More. “I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that low iron remains an under recognized women’s health issue in the U.S. today, impacting our performance in school, at work, and the quality of our lives*. Unfortunately, many women with low iron simply don’t know it, even though simple blood testing is readily available."

Those who need to take special care to maintain healthy iron levels include menstruating or pregnant women, vegetarians/vegans, and athletes, particularly women athletes. Additionally, a healthy person who donates blood may also need an iron supplement. In fact, one clinical trial that enrolled individuals who had donated blood found that without iron supplementation, two-thirds of the donors had not recovered the iron they lost, even after 24 weeks.³

MegaFood’s Blood Builder product is a simple solution for getting more iron in the diet, which may in turn help fight fatigue^*. “In addition to the decreases in fatigue, we also saw no reports of negative gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, diarrhea or constipation,” says study lead Dr.Chris D’Adamo, Assistant Director of Medical Education and Director of Research at the University of Maryland’s Center for Integrative Medicine.

“Iron deficiency can be addressed very easily with supplementation,” says Erin Stokes, N.D., MegaFood Medical Director. “However, so many women really struggle with taking iron supplements because of the negative side effects, like nausea and constipation. At MegaFood, we want to make sure side effects don’t stand in the way of good health, and that’s why it was so important to us to develop an iron supplement that’s gentle on the stomach^†.”

MegaFood’s original, best-selling iron supplement, Blood Builder, contains 26 mg of iron and is formulated exclusively with nourishing FoodState Nutrients^™, including FoodState Farm Fresh Beets from Stahlbush Island Farms. Beets are fiber-rich and a natural source of plant compounds known to nourish the blood^*. To support healthy red blood cell production and iron bioavailability, Blood Builder also includes FoodState® Folate, B12, and Vitamin C delivered in Uncle Matt’s Organic whole oranges^*. These added components are gentle on the stomach, helping the body better digest and absorb the supplement.

MegaFood Blood Builder and NEW Blood Builder Minis, an easier to swallow, two-a-day tablet with the same powerful punch as the original Blood Builder, are available nationwide at natural product retail stores. Visit BloodBuilder.com for more details on the clinical study and who’s at risk for low iron.

^† Study details at BloodBuilder.com

^*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

¹ CDC, 2nd National Report on the Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the U.S. Population

² World Health Organization (WHO), Micronutrient Deficiencies

³ February 10, 2015 Oral Iron Supplementation After Blood Donation - A Randomized Clinical Trial. Joseph E. Kiss, MD1; Donald Brambilla, PhD2; Simone A. Glynn, MD3; et al Alan E. Mast, MD, PhD4; Bryan R. Spencer, MPH5; Mars Stone, PhD6; Steven H. Kleinman, MD7; Ritchard G. Cable, MD8; for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Recipient Epidemiology and Donor Evaluation Study–III (REDS-III) Author Affiliations Article Information JAMA. 2015;313(6):575-583. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.119