Compare Supplements

Side-by-side comparison of 2 supplements

Fe9.0

Iron

Moderate safety

Lcr6.0

L. crispatus CTV-05

High safety

Evidence

Likely helps

Evidence Score9/10

Studies: 779

Meta-analyses: 17

Mostly mechanism / observational

Evidence Score6/10

Studies: 12

Meta-analyses: 0

Dosage & timing

Dosage:

30mg elemental iron

Best Time:

Between meals

Can take on empty stomach

Form:

Ferrous bisglycinate (gentle, well-absorbed) or iron protein succinylate

Dosage:

VAGINAL USE ONLY, by applicator: 2 x 10^9 CFU per dose. The phase 2b regimen was one dose daily for 5 days in week 1, then twice weekly for a further 10 weeks — always started after a completed course of vaginal metronidazole gel.

Best Time:

Any time

Can take on empty stomach

Form:

Vaginal applicator delivering L. crispatus CTV-05

What you'll notice

⚡ Energy Restorationpositive

2-4 weeks

🧠 Cognitive Functionpositive

4-8 weeks

🏃 Exercise Performancepositive

4-12 weeks

🔁 Fewer bacterial-vaginosis recurrences after antibioticspositive

11-week dosing course, measured at 12 weeks

⚠️ No benefit if the antibiotic didn't clear the infection firstnegative

n/a

🌱 Establishes L. crispatus where it was absentpositive

Days 10-28

Safety

Moderate safety

Contraindications:

Hemochromatosis or iron overload
Repeated blood transfusions
Adequate iron stores (test first!)

Drug Interactions:

Thyroid medications (levothyroxine)
Antacids, PPIs
Antibiotics (fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines)

Side Effects:

ConstipationNausea/GI upsetDark stools

High safety

Contraindications:

Not established for anyone outside the trial populations — otherwise-healthy non-pregnant women aged 14-45
Immunocompromise or immunosuppressive therapy (chemotherapy, transplant medication, high-dose corticosteroids, advanced HIV) — a live organism that no trial has studied in this population; use only under clinician supervision
Critical illness, an indwelling central venous catheter, or a disrupted mucosal barrier — no vaginal-lactobacillus infection has been reported, but oral probiotics have caused documented bloodstream infection in these settings

Drug Interactions: