What it is
Mechanism evidence: human
At a glance
What it is, why people use it, the evidence, and what to know before trying it.
Why people use it
- Correction or prevention of iron deficiency when clinically indicated
- Alternative oral iron form
Evidence at a glance
Proferrin is a real heme iron product, not a generic longevity supplement. Heme iron polypeptide can maintain hemoglobin in some iron-deficient clinical populations, but trials have not shown consistent superiority to standard oral iron and one bariatric trial favored ferrous sulfate.
Confidence: moderate
Safety & interactions
Known side effects, interactions and use limits from reviewed sources.
Iron can cause gastrointestinal symptoms and dangerous overdose, especially in children. Excess iron can damage organs; avoid unsupervised use with hemochromatosis or normal or high iron stores. Iron interacts with levothyroxine and some antibiotics, so separation and clinician or pharmacist review may be needed. The product is bovine-derived.
Forms and variants
This review does not automatically apply to:
- ferrous sulfate
- iron bisglycinate
- intravenous iron
- Proferrin Forte with folic acid when product is unspecified
Seen in protocols
Public protocols that include Proferrin. Open one to see the full context and source.