California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules vs Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules
California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules (#1, best overall) vs Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules (#5): in our Gentle Iron Supplements scoring the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules totals 8.9/10 and the Thorne,…
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California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules
$8.02Check price at iHerbRead full review
TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules | Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.02 | $26 |
| Iron Form | Ferrous bisglycinate chelate | Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate |
| Elemental Iron | 36 mg | 36 mg |
| Vitamin C | None | 15 mg as ascorbic acid |
| Serving Size | 1 capsule | 1 capsule |
| Servings Per Container | 90 | 60 |
| Other Active Ingredients | None | Vitamin B6 5 mg P-5-P; folate 667 mcg DFE as L-5-MTHF; vitamin B12 300 mcg as methylcobalamin |
| Other Ingredients | Rice flour, hypromellose capsule, rice hulls, rice bran extract | Hypromellose capsule, microcrystalline cellulose, leucine, silicon dioxide |
| Testing / Certification | Product-specific iTested certificate linked by iHerb | No listed USP, NSF or public product-specific certificate of analysis |
How they differ in real use
Built from our gentle iron supplements scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules and the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules made our Top 5 Gentle Iron Supplements, at #1 (best overall) and #5. It narrowly takes first because it combines a product-specific iTested certificate with the best active-ingredient value and a fully disclosed bisglycinate dose. Its 10,000+ recent sales also support buyer trust, but certification, form and value drive the rank. The cofactor formula is the most comprehensive and its 5,000+ recent sales show strong demand, but the fixed scoring penalizes its lack of product-specific external certification and the list's highest active-ingredient cost. Popularity cannot outweigh those heavier criteria.
We score gentle iron supplements on Third-Party Testing (30%), Form & Bioavailability (25%), Dose vs Research (20%), Label Transparency (15%) and Value (10%). On that basis the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules totals 8.9 out of 10 and the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules 6.3. The widest gap is Third-Party Testing, where the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules scores 9 against 2 for the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules — independent certification or a published certificate of analysis. Value also separates them: 10 for the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus 3 for the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules. The Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules claws back ground on Label Transparency.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Iron Form — Ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules; Vitamin C — None on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus 15 mg as ascorbic acid on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules; Servings Per Container — 90 on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus 60 on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules; Other Active Ingredients — None on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Vitamin B6 5 mg P-5-P; folate 667 mcg DFE as L-5-MTHF; vitamin B12 300 mcg as methylcobalamin on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules; Other Ingredients — Rice flour, hypromellose capsule, rice hulls, rice bran extract on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Hypromellose capsule, microcrystalline cellulose, leucine, silicon dioxide on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules; Testing / Certification — Product-specific iTested certificate linked by iHerb on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus No listed USP, NSF or public product-specific certificate of analysis on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules. They match on Elemental Iron and Serving Size.
Pricing as of August 5, 2026: $8.02 for the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules and $26 for the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules, a $17.98 difference in the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules's favor. Owners praise the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules for 36 mg elemental iron as ferrous bisglycinate chelate per capsule and the iHerb page links a product-specific iTested certificate; the most common complaint is no vitamin C appears on the Supplement Facts panel. Owners praise the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules for 36 mg elemental iron as Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate and includes 15 mg vitamin C plus disclosed active forms of vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12; the most common complaint is no USP, NSF or public product-specific certificate of analysis is shown for this product.
California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules
- 36 mg elemental iron as ferrous bisglycinate chelate per capsule
- The iHerb page links a product-specific iTested certificate
- $8.02 for 90 servings, about $0.0025 per mg of elemental iron
- No vitamin C appears on the Supplement Facts panel
- The 36 mg serving is higher than the 25 mg bisglycinate dose used in the cited pregnancy trial
Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules
- 36 mg elemental iron as Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate
- Includes 15 mg vitamin C plus disclosed active forms of vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12
- No proprietary blend; every active amount is stated
- No USP, NSF or public product-specific certificate of analysis is shown for this product
- $0.43 per serving and about $0.0120 per mg of elemental iron are the highest costs in the list
Which should you buy?
The California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules is the better fit for buyers prioritizing the lowest cost per mg of elemental iron and buyers wanting a public product-specific test document — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Third-Party Testing and Value. The Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules is the better fit for buyers wanting vitamin C and B-vitamin cofactors in one capsule and buyers preferring methylfolate and methylcobalamin forms, and the stronger choice if Label Transparency matters more to you than the overall score. Since the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules is both the higher scorer and $17.98 cheaper, the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules only makes sense for buyers wanting vitamin C and B-vitamin cofactors in one capsule. The California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules is a poor fit for buyers specifically wanting vitamin C in the same capsule; the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules is a poor fit for budget-focused shoppers.
Choose the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules if
- Buyers prioritizing the lowest cost per mg of elemental iron
- Buyers wanting a public product-specific test document
Skip it if
- Buyers specifically wanting vitamin C in the same capsule
- Anyone whose clinician recommends a lower elemental-iron dose
Choose the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules if
- Buyers wanting vitamin C and B-vitamin cofactors in one capsule
- Buyers preferring methylfolate and methylcobalamin forms
Skip it if
- Budget-focused shoppers
- Buyers wanting a single-active iron formula
Common questions
Is the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules better than the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules?
In our Gentle Iron Supplements ranking the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules scores higher overall, 8.9 to 6.3, with the biggest advantage in Third-Party Testing. The Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules is stronger on Label Transparency, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules cost than the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules?
$17.98 more as of August 5, 2026: $26 for the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules against $8.02 for the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure.
What is the main difference between the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules and the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules?
The headline spec difference is Iron Form: Ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the California Gold Nutrition, Ferrochel Iron (Bisglycinate), 36 mg, 90 Capsules versus Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate on the Thorne, Advanced Iron Complex, 60 Capsules. In use, the gap that matters most is Third-Party Testing (9 vs 2 in our scoring): independent certification or a published certificate of analysis.