Researchers have created a new iron supplement that merges iron, probiotics, and prebiotics. This “three-in-one” formula restores iron levels while maintaining gut health and preventing inflammation. In mice studies, it normalized hemoglobin and gut bacteria without side effects. The innovation could reshape how anemia is treated.
FULL STORY
A new supplement combining iron, probiotics, and prebiotics successfully corrected anemia in mice while keeping the gut healthy. It offers a promising step toward safer, more effective iron therapies. Credit: Shutterstock
Iron-deficiency anemia is a widespread health problem that often leads to fatigue, headaches, or even cravings for ice. Traditional oral iron supplements can help, but they often leave behind unabsorbed iron that irritates the digestive tract and triggers inflammation. Researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed a new type of supplement that blends iron with prebiotics and probiotics. In animal studies, this innovative formula successfully restored healthy blood iron levels in anemic mice while preventing inflammation and keeping the gut microbiome balanced.
"By advancing biomaterial-based iron delivery, this research offers a transformative approach to address anemia, directly contributing to improved nutrition and long-term public health," explains Poonam Sagar, an author of the study.
Anemia develops when the body lacks enough red blood cells to transport oxygen efficiently. It can result from infections, inherited conditions, or, most commonly, a shortage of dietary iron. Doctors typically prescribe oral iron tablets to treat the condition. However, the body absorbs only a small fraction of the iron they contain. The remaining iron can upset the balance of gut bacteria and cause inflammation, which is why probiotics are sometimes prescribed alongside iron to protect digestive health.
In earlier research, scientists had already tried combining iron with probiotics. Sagar, Nitin Kumar Singhal, and their team expanded on this concept by adding prebiotics (nutrients that feed beneficial bacteria) to create a three-part supplement designed to be more effective and gentler on the gut.
The new formulation combines dietary fiber extracted from millet (a grain), the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and an iron-containing complex. The researchers first tested the supplement's compatibility with human cells, then evaluated its effects in mice with iron-deficiency anemia. After two weeks, the treated mice showed:
Restored hemoglobin levels (the main iron-rich molecule in red blood cells).
Iron excretion levels similar to healthy control mice, showing improved absorption.
Increased activity of genes involved in iron transport and metabolism.
Very low signs of inflammation in the colon.
A recovery of beneficial gut bacteria populations that had been depleted by anemia.
While more research is needed, the team believes this approach could lead to a new generation of iron supplements that restore iron safely, improve gut health, and reduce unwanted side effects.
The study received support from the Ministry of Science and Technology of India and the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute.
Story Source:
Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Sunaina Kaul, Prateeksha Veena, Poonam Sagar, Geetika Bajaj, Niket Rana, Akash Thakur, Nitesh Priyadarshi, Iwin K. Joseph, Nimaichand Salam, Parmjit S. Panesar, Nitin Kumar Singhal. Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel-Based Oral Delivery of Iron Supplemented with Probiotic and Prebiotic Ameliorates Iron-Deficiency Anaemia. ACS Applied Materials, 2025; 17 (39): 54496 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c11368[1]
Cite This Page:
American Chemical Society. "This new iron supplement heals anemia without hurting your gut." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 October 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251019120516.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2025, October 20). This new iron supplement heals anemia without hurting your gut. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 20, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251019120516.htm
American Chemical Society. "This new iron supplement heals anemia without hurting your gut." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251019120516.htm (accessed October 20, 2025).
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Researchers have created a new iron supplement that merges iron, probiotics, and prebiotics. This “three-in-one” formula restores iron levels while maintaining gut health and preventing inflammation. In mice studies, it normalized hemoglobin and gut bacteria without side effects. The innovation could reshape how anemia is treated.
FULL STORY
A new supplement combining iron, probiotics, and prebiotics successfully corrected anemia in mice while keeping the gut healthy. It offers a promising step toward safer, more effective iron therapies. Credit: Shutterstock
Iron-deficiency anemia is a widespread health problem that often leads to fatigue, headaches, or even cravings for ice. Traditional oral iron supplements can help, but they often leave behind unabsorbed iron that irritates the digestive tract and triggers inflammation. Researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed a new type of supplement that blends iron with prebiotics and probiotics. In animal studies, this innovative formula successfully restored healthy blood iron levels in anemic mice while preventing inflammation and keeping the gut microbiome balanced.
"By advancing biomaterial-based iron delivery, this research offers a transformative approach to address anemia, directly contributing to improved nutrition and long-term public health," explains Poonam Sagar, an author of the study.
Anemia develops when the body lacks enough red blood cells to transport oxygen efficiently. It can result from infections, inherited conditions, or, most commonly, a shortage of dietary iron. Doctors typically prescribe oral iron tablets to treat the condition. However, the body absorbs only a small fraction of the iron they contain. The remaining iron can upset the balance of gut bacteria and cause inflammation, which is why probiotics are sometimes prescribed alongside iron to protect digestive health.
In earlier research, scientists had already tried combining iron with probiotics. Sagar, Nitin Kumar Singhal, and their team expanded on this concept by adding prebiotics (nutrients that feed beneficial bacteria) to create a three-part supplement designed to be more effective and gentler on the gut.
The new formulation combines dietary fiber extracted from millet (a grain), the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and an iron-containing complex. The researchers first tested the supplement's compatibility with human cells, then evaluated its effects in mice with iron-deficiency anemia. After two weeks, the treated mice showed:
Restored hemoglobin levels (the main iron-rich molecule in red blood cells).
Iron excretion levels similar to healthy control mice, showing improved absorption.
Increased activity of genes involved in iron transport and metabolism.
Very low signs of inflammation in the colon.
A recovery of beneficial gut bacteria populations that had been depleted by anemia.
While more research is needed, the team believes this approach could lead to a new generation of iron supplements that restore iron safely, improve gut health, and reduce unwanted side effects.
The study received support from the Ministry of Science and Technology of India and the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute.
Story Source:
Materials provided by American Chemical Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Journal Reference:
Sunaina Kaul, Prateeksha Veena, Poonam Sagar, Geetika Bajaj, Niket Rana, Akash Thakur, Nitesh Priyadarshi, Iwin K. Joseph, Nimaichand Salam, Parmjit S. Panesar, Nitin Kumar Singhal. Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel-Based Oral Delivery of Iron Supplemented with Probiotic and Prebiotic Ameliorates Iron-Deficiency Anaemia. ACS Applied Materials, 2025; 17 (39): 54496 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c11368[1]
Cite This Page:
American Chemical Society. "This new iron supplement heals anemia without hurting your gut." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 October 2025. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251019120516.htm>.
American Chemical Society. (2025, October 20). This new iron supplement heals anemia without hurting your gut. ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 20, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251019120516.htm
American Chemical Society. "This new iron supplement heals anemia without hurting your gut." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251019120516.htm (accessed October 20, 2025).
Sep. 19, 2025 For decades, scientists have puzzled over why smoking makes Crohn’s disease worse but seems to protect people from ulcerative colitis. Now, researchers at RIKEN have discovered that smoking creates ...
May 16, 2025 A groundbreaking new study introduces an AI-powered smartphone app that noninvasively screens for anemia using a photo of a user's fingernail. The study shows the app provides hemoglobin ...
Mar. 12, 2025 Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs, causing inflammation and damaging organs. A new study has now shown that the natural active ...
June 21, 2023 Probiotics can help maintain a healthy gut microbiome or restore populations of 'good bacteria' after a heavy course of antibiotics. But now, they could also be used as an effective ...
June 1, 2021 Researchers have developed a proof-of-concept treatment for blood disorders like sickle cell disease and beta-thalassemia that could raise hemoglobin levels by activating production of both fetal and ...
Feb. 23, 2021 A complete blood count can help ascertain the health of a patient and typically includes an estimate of the hemoglobin concentration, which can indicate several conditions, including anemia, ...
