Iron deficiency is a common problem, but iron supplements are often poorly absorbed. A product developed by the Swiss federal technology institute ETH Zurich hopes to offer a solution. +Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox Constant tiredness, headaches and a weakened immune system: worldwide, around two billion people suffer from iron deficiency; in Europe, one in five women is affected. Those who have to take iron tablets often suffer from side effects such as bloating, constipation or nausea. “The challenge with iron supplements lies in providing bioavailable iron, that is, iron that can be absorbed by the body,” explains Raffaele Mezzenga from the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich. He is leading the development of a new iron supplement. + Drugmakers are finally making medicine for women This relies on a promising technology that aims to deliver iron in a highly absorbable form. Instead of conventional iron sulfate, it uses iron …