– Absorbed in a natural and gentle way for the stomach
Tolfer is a new iron supplement developed for people with increased iron needs who experience gastrointestinal discomfort from certain traditional iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate. The product is now being launched in Sweden and Finland by Avia Pharma, and is based on the patented IHAT™ technology (Iron Hydroxide Adipate Tartrate) – designed to mimic how iron from food is absorbed and to reduce stomach-related discomfort.
Some individuals who take iron supplements experience side effects such as nausea, constipation or diarrhea.1 This may partly be due to certain traditional iron salts dissolving rapidly in the stomach. Excess free iron can irritate the mucosal lining and affect the gut microbiota.2 IHAT™ differs from traditional forms of iron through its particle structure and absorption pathway, where uptake resembles how iron from food is absorbed.3 The small, stable iron particles in Tolfer do not need to dissolve in the stomach but are absorbed in a protected form – which may be gentler on the stomach.
– Many pregnant women need iron supplements but stop taking them because they experience stomach-related discomfort. There is a clear demand for iron supplements that are better tolerated and more stomach-friendly. New forms of iron that are absorbed in a less irritating way are therefore a very welcome addition to the market – especially for pregnant women, who have a particularly high need for alternatives, says Johanna Ekmark, Nordic Commercial Product Manager OTC at Avia Pharma.
About the IHAT technology
IHAT™ (Iron Hydroxide Adipate Tartrate) is a new form of iron developed to mimic how iron from food is absorbed in the body. The particles are stable, very small and resemble the structure of ferritin, the body’s natural iron storage protein. Unlike traditional iron salts, IHAT™ does not dissolve in the stomach but is absorbed in a protected form,3,4 which reduces the likelihood of chemical reactions that can irritate the intestinal lining.2 In clinical studies, IHAT™ has demonstrated iron absorption comparable to traditional iron forms5,6 and favourable gastrointestinal tolerability in the populations studied6.
About iron
Iron is an essential mineral that contributes to the normal formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin, oxygen transport in the body, normal cognitive function and reduced tiredness and fatigue.7 Despite this, iron deficiency is one of the world’s most common nutrient deficiencies,8 particularly among menstruating women, pregnant women, vegans and athletes. During pregnancy, iron requirements increase substantially because the body must produce more blood for both the mother and the growing fetus, while also building iron stores ahead of childbirth.9 Iron needs rise from around 15 mg per day for a woman of reproductive age10 to 27 mg per day during pregnancy.11
About iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is one of the world’s most common nutritional deficiencies. According to WHO, over 30% of women of reproductive age and more than 35% of pregnant women have anemia12 with iron deficiency being the most common cause. Globally, nearly one quarter of the world’s population is estimated to have anemia, corresponding to approximately 1.9 billion people.13
Despite the high prevalence of iron deficiency, many people discontinue iron supplementation prematurely due to gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, constipation and diarrhea.
For more information, please contact:
Johanna Ekmark, Nordic Commercial Product Manager OTC
About Avia Pharma
Avia Pharma is a pharmaceutical company founded in 2016 by professionals with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy sectors. The company operates throughout Northern Europe with offices in Stockholm, Helsinki, Munich and Greven, focusing on five core therapeutic areas: women’s health, urology, dermatology, allergy and everyday health. Avia Pharma reported revenues exceeding EUR 55 million in 2024 and continues to grow both organically and through acquisitions in Northern Europe. Through collaborations with international partners and its own brands, Avia Pharma markets pharmaceuticals, OTC products and medical devices that contribute to better health and improved quality of life.
1 Tolkien Z et al. Ferrous Sulfate Supplementation Causes Significant Gastrointestinal Side-Effects in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLOS One. 2015;10(2):e0117383.
2 Bloor SR et al. Oral Iron Supplementation—Gastrointestinal Side Effects and the Impact on the Gut Microbiota.Gastroenterology Insights. 2021;12(2):33.
3 Pereira DIA et al. Nanoparticulate iron(III) oxo-hydroxide delivers safe iron that is well absorbed and limits GI side effects. Nanomedicine: NBM. 2014;10(12):1877-1886.
4 Puga AM et al. Iron Supplementation at the Crossroads of Nutrition and Pharmacology. Nutrients. 2022;14(9):1926.
5 EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA). “Safety of iron hydroxide adipate tartrate as a novel food and as a source of iron.” EFSA Journal. 2021;19(12):6935.
6 Mohammed N.I. et al. “A novel nano-iron supplement (IHAT) versus standard treatment for iron deficiency anaemia in children 6–35 months (IHAT-GUT trial).” EClinicalMedicine (The Lancet), 2021.
7 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to iron and formation of red blood cells and haemoglobin, oxygen transport, reduction of tiredness and fatigue, EFSA Journal 8(10):1740 (2010).
8 World Health Organization. Anaemia – Fact sheet. 10 feb 2025. Tillgänglig: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/anaemia (hämtad 13 nov 2025).
9 Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Nutritional Status During Pregnancy and Lactation. (1990). Nutrition During Pregnancy: Part I: Weight Gain; Part II: Nutrient Supplements. National Academy Press. Retrieved November 13, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK235228/
10 Livsmedelsverket, Hälsosamma matvanor under graviditet och amning, Rapport L 2020 nr 08, 2020. Tillgänglig: https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/4aa16f/globalassets/publikationsdatabas/rapporter/2020/l-2020-nr-08-halsosamma-matvanor-under-graviditet-och-amning.pdf (hämtad: 2025-11-27).
11 NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Iron – Health Professional Fact Sheet, 2025.
12 World Health Organization. Anaemia in women of reproductive age – Global Health Observatory data. WHO, 2024.
13 World Health Organization. Global anaemia estimates, 2021 edition. Geneva: WHO, 2023.