Can I take Anthocyanins (Bilberry Extract) and Iron together?

Yes, if you separate them in time. Anthocyanins (Bilberry Extract) and Iron have a documented timing-sensitive interaction. Polyphenols including anthocyanins and other flavonoids can chelate non-heme iron in the gut and reduce its absorption when consumed together.

What kind of interaction is it?

Timing-sensitive: the two substances can be taken on the same day but should be separated by a minimum time window.

Is this interaction backed by published research?

Yes. NutriStack lists 1 citation row for the Anthocyanins (Bilberry Extract) + Iron pair, each linking to PubMed by PMID where available. Full sourcing methodology at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/interactions.

Supplement × Supplement·timing-sensitive·Moderate evidence

Anthocyanins (Bilberry Extract) + Iron

Q: How does this affect a NutriStack Stack Score?

-5 to your Stack Score per scored timing-sensitive row.

Timing Sensitive Moderate evidence

Polyphenols including anthocyanins and other flavonoids can chelate non-heme iron in the gut and reduce its absorption when consumed together.

Supplement × Supplement

Open the interaction checker → Read the methodology

From the database

What the row says.

Every entry follows the same shape: what is happening, the mechanism, and the recommendation.

Substances

Anthocyanins (Bilberry Extract) and Iron

Pair type

Timing Sensitive

Evidence

Moderate

Source citations

Scope

Supplement × Supplement

Last verified

June 4, 2026

Timing SensitiveModerate evidence

What is happening. Polyphenols including anthocyanins and other flavonoids can chelate non-heme iron in the gut and reduce its absorption when consumed together.

Mechanism. Anthocyanins and related polyphenols form insoluble complexes with ferric iron in the intestinal lumen, lowering the bioavailability of non-heme iron.

Recommendation. If iron repletion is a goal, separate the bilberry extract from the iron dose by about 2 hours. Taking iron with vitamin C and away from polyphenol-rich foods or supplements improves uptake.

Timing

Timing & separation.

Space the doses apart by at least this window to avoid the conflict.

Minimum separation

120

Stack Score

How it moves the number.

Effect on the composite score

If both Anthocyanins (Bilberry Extract) and Iron are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored timing-sensitive row).

The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are at /methodology/stack-score.

Sources

Sources, by evidence tier.

Every claim on this page is cited. PMIDs link straight to PubMed.

Reference material

1Hurrell RF, Egli I. Iron bioavailability and dietary reference values. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2010.Needs sourceNo link

Check your full routine

One pair was the worked example.

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Open the interaction checker → Browse the research index