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Nutrition Reviews

Head to head · Vitamins & Minerals

PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels vs Thorne Iron Bisglycinate

Thorne scores higher overall (8.6 vs 7.7 out of 10) and leads on four of the five factors we score.

Updated October 2026 from our full reviews · How we score

Front of the PreserVision AREDS 2 Formula carton and bottle, 120 mini soft gels
PreserVisionAREDS 2 Formula MiniGels
7.7
Good

The exact NEI AREDS2 doses in small MiniGels: worthwhile for intermediate AMD, no help for healthy eyes, and 80 mg of zinc is double the adult upper limit.

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Higher score
Front of Thorne Iron Bisglycinate 60-capsule bottle
ThorneIron Bisglycinate
8.6
Excellent

25 mg of chelated iron (Ferrochel bisglycinate) in a small, NSF Certified for Sport capsule; gentler than iron salts for most, but only for people who need iron.

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The short answer

Choose PreserVision if…

  • Adults with intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye, whose eye doctor recommends AREDS2
  • Current or former smokers who need a beta-carotene-free AREDS formula
  • People who want the exact NEI-tested doses in small softgels

Choose Thorne if…

  • People with low ferritin who get stomach upset from ferrous sulfate
  • Menstruating women and athletes who need iron under medical guidance
  • Vegetarians with confirmed low iron
  • You care most about quality & purity, value, experience, transparency

Side by side

AREDS 2 Formula MiniGelsIron Bisglycinate
Our score7.7 / 108.6 / 10
Efficacy (30%)8.48.5
Quality & Purity (25%)7.49.3
Value (20%)7.07.6
Experience (15%)7.88.6
Transparency (10%)7.39.0
FormSoftgelCapsule
Serving1 Soft Gel (MiniGel)120 servings per container1 capsule60 servings per container
Price per serving$0.26See retailer
Testing & certificationsNone verified
NSF Certified for Sport
Dietary—Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Soy-free
Key ingredients
  • Zinc (from zinc oxide)80 mg per day (40 mg per MiniGel)
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)500 mg per day
  • Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate)180 mg (400 IU) per day
  • Lutein (marigold flower extract, OcuSorb)10 mg per day
  • Zeaxanthin2 mg per day
  • Copper (from cupric oxide)2 mg per day
  • Iron (as Ferrochel ferrous bisglycinate chelate)25 mg
Flavors——
Creator video reviews65

Pros and cons

AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels

  • Matches the NEI AREDS2 formula dose for dose: 500 mg C, 400 IU E, 80 mg zinc, 2 mg copper, 10 mg lutein, 2 mg zeaxanthin
  • Backed by large NEI trials: about 25% lower risk of advanced AMD over five years in higher-risk patients
  • Beta-carotene free, so it suits current and former smokers
  • Small MiniGels that buyers find easy to swallow
  • 80 mg of zinc is twice the 40 mg adult upper limit, and AREDS2 found 25 mg worked as well
  • No proven benefit for healthy eyes, early AMD or cataracts
  • About $0.52 a day at the brand's price, more than store-brand compare-to versions
  • Contains gelatin, carmine and titanium dioxide; the only published OcuSorb absorption study was funded by its maker

Iron Bisglycinate

  • Iron amino-acid chelate, a form NIH says may cause fewer GI side effects
  • NSF Certified for Sport
  • 25 mg dose sits below the 45 mg upper limit
  • Small 18 mm capsule with a short ingredient list
  • About $0.27 per day, more than generic ferrous sulfate
  • Some users still report nausea on an empty stomach
  • No vitamin C or other cofactors included
  • Not appropriate without a confirmed need for iron

Our verdicts

AREDS 2 Formula MiniGels

For someone whose eye doctor has found intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye, it delivers the NEI-tested AREDS2 formula dose for dose, in a small, easy MiniGel. It does nothing proven for healthy eyes, early AMD or cataracts. Because the 80 mg of zinc is double the adult upper limit and AREDS2 saw no loss of benefit at 25 mg, ask your doctor whether a lower-zinc AREDS2 formula suits you.

Full review

Iron Bisglycinate

If you have documented low iron and struggle with conventional iron pills, this is one of the best-tolerated and best-verified options available, at a fair premium. It is not something to take without a reason: check ferritin first, and space it from calcium, thyroid medication and zinc.

Full review

What creators say

Questions people ask

Is PreserVision better than Thorne?
In our scoring, Thorne Iron Bisglycinate rates higher overall (8.6 vs 7.7 out of 10). Thorne leads on quality & purity, value, experience and transparency. Scores weigh efficacy, quality, value, experience and transparency.
Are PreserVision and Thorne third-party tested?
PreserVision has no independent certification we could verify; Thorne carries NSF Certified for Sport. Sport-level certifications screen for banned substances, which matters for drug-tested athletes.
Who should choose PreserVision over Thorne?
Our reviews suggest PreserVision is best for adults with intermediate AMD, or advanced AMD in one eye, whose eye doctor recommends AREDS2, current or former smokers who need a beta-carotene-free AREDS formula and people who want the exact NEI-tested doses in small softgels, while Thorne is best for people with low ferritin who get stomach upset from ferrous sulfate, menstruating women and athletes who need iron under medical guidance and vegetarians with confirmed low iron.

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