Vitamin C and Iron
Each entry’s own grades, side by side. A grade says how strong the evidence is for one outcome — it does not rank one entry over the other.
Compound or practice
Vitamin C
An essential antioxidant and enzyme cofactor — cures scurvy, modestly shortens colds, and triples plant-iron absorption.
Grade A4 graded outcomesrevised Jul 10, 2026
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
Compound or practice
Iron
Only supplement it against a ferritin number — transformative in deficiency, pro-oxidant and constipating in excess.
Grade A3 graded outcomesrevised Jul 10, 2026
A structured monograph in Prometheus's bundled library. Its grades are the monograph's own reading of the evidence, not a peer-reviewed review.
Graded in both
Outcomes are matched by name. Two entries can describe the same outcome in different words, so one listed further down may still be graded in the other.
No outcome has the same name in both entries. They may still overlap under different wording — read the two lists below.
Graded only in Vitamin C
- Scurvy / deficiency Large effectEvidence grade A
- Non-heme iron absorption Moderate effectEvidence grade A
- Cold duration Small effectEvidence grade B
- Cancer / CVD prevention Trivial effectEvidence grade D
Graded only in Iron
- Iron-deficiency anemia Large effectEvidence grade A
- Fatigue with low ferritin (non-anemic) Moderate effectEvidence grade B
- Restless legs syndrome Moderate effectEvidence grade B
What each entry says about the other
- Vitamin C’s entry · Works together: Reduces iron to its absorbable form — take together to raise plant-iron uptake.
- Vitamin C’s entry · Goes with: Reduces iron to its absorbable form — take together to raise plant-iron uptake.
- Iron’s entry · Works together: Reduces iron to its absorbable form — take together.
- Iron’s entry · Goes with: Reduces iron to its absorbable form — take together.
Both columns are read from the entries as they stand in this library. A comparison is not advice to take either one, and it is no substitute for a clinician who knows the person.