Kabtafer Plus: How It Works

Kabtafer Plus Editorial Team · Last reviewed: 4 May 2026

Scientific basis: This article is grounded in the clinical research of Prof. Mariangela Rondanelli (University of Pavia, IRCCS Fondazione C. Mondino, Italy), whose double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial on the Kabtafer Plus formulation was published in Minerva Medica 2006;97(5):385–90. Supporting evidence from the University of Bologna IBD pilot (S.Orsola Hospital, 2009) and peer-reviewed literature indexed in PubMed, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, the World Health Organization, and Mayo Clinic.

The short answer

Kabtafer Plus is an iron absorption enhancer available in the United Arab Emirates. It does not contain iron. Instead, it contains a specific fraction of oligosaccharides derived from hydrolyzed sea fish cartilage — 400 mg per tablet — which has been shown in laboratory studies to make the intestine absorb 3 to 5 times more non-heme iron than the classic “meat factor.” Kabtafer Plus combines these oligosaccharides with five absorption-supporting cofactors: Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Zinc, and Copper. The formulation has been evaluated in a published double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial at the University of Pavia, which showed significant improvements in both serum iron and ferritin within 30 to 60 days, with zero side effects reported.

This guide explains the mechanism behind Kabtafer Plus in plain language, lists the complete formulation, describes how it is designed to be used, and summarises the clinical evidence.

TL;DR — The fast version

• Kabtafer Plus does not contain iron; it is designed to be taken alongside iron-rich meals or iron supplements.
• Each tablet contains 400 mg of oligosaccharides from hydrolyzed sea fish cartilage — the active absorption factor.
• In vitro (Caco-2 cell) studies showed these oligosaccharides increase non-heme iron absorption 3–5× compared with the classic “meat factor.”
• Five cofactors support iron metabolism: Vitamin C 50 mg, Vitamin E 30 mg, Folic Acid 400 mcg, Zinc 7.5 mg, Copper 0.6 mg.
• A published clinical trial (Rondanelli et al., University of Pavia) showed serum iron +78% at 30 days and ferritin +80% at 60 days, with 100% response rate and zero side effects.
• Active in acidic gastric medium; efficacy is reduced when taken alongside antacids, PPIs, or H2-blockers.
• Suitable during pregnancy when advised by a healthcare professional; recommended for vegetarians.
• Not recommended for individuals with fish-protein hypersensitivity.

What is Kabtafer Plus?

Kabtafer Plus is a dietary supplement registered in the United Arab Emirates. It was developed by Medestea (Turin, Italy) and is available across the Gulf region. It was designed to solve a specific, well-documented problem in nutritional hematology: a large share of people who take iron supplements do not absorb enough of the iron, and continue to have low ferritin, fatigue, and slow recovery despite consistent daily dosing.

Rather than adding more iron to an already-saturated regimen, Kabtafer Plus focuses on the absorption side of the equation. It contains no iron itself — and is therefore free of the gastric side effects (nausea, constipation, dark stools) that make iron salts difficult to tolerate for many patients.

The Complete Formulation

What’s in each Kabtafer Plus tablet

The folic acid content (400 mcg) is particularly notable because it corresponds exactly to the World Health Organization’s recommended daily amount for pregnant women to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida — making Kabtafer Plus a convenient dual-purpose supplement during pregnancy.

The Mechanism — How Kabtafer Plus Actually Works

The “Kabtafer Plus Factor”

The central active principle in Kabtafer Plus is a specific fraction of oligosaccharides — short-chain carbohydrates — extracted, purified, and standardised from hydrolyzed sea fish cartilage. These oligosaccharides are referred to as the “Kabtafer Plus Factor.”

What the laboratory studies showed

Using the Caco-2 cell model — a standard human intestinal cell model used to study nutrient absorption — researchers demonstrated that the oligosaccharide fraction in Kabtafer Plus increases the absorption of non-heme iron from food by a factor of 3 to 5 times compared with the well-established “meat factor.”

The “meat factor” is the name given to the observation that eating meat with a plant-iron meal increases the absorption of iron from the plants. It was long considered the benchmark for dietary iron absorption enhancement. The Kabtafer Plus Factor exceeds it significantly — an effect particularly important because non-heme iron (the type found in plants, supplements, and most fortified foods) is the iron that is otherwise hardest for the body to absorb.

Where the absorption happens

The oligosaccharides in Kabtafer Plus are active in the acidic environment of the stomach (pH 2 or lower), and the iron absorption they support happens in the duodenum and jejunum — the first and second parts of the small intestine, where iron absorption physiologically takes place.

Why the cofactors matter

The other ingredients in Kabtafer Plus are not accidental — each has a documented role in supporting iron absorption, iron use, or red blood cell production:

• Vitamin C (50 mg) reduces oxidised iron (Fe³⁺) into the absorbable ferrous form (Fe²⁺) and prevents dietary compounds such as phytates and polyphenols from binding iron.
• Vitamin E (30 mg) works together with Vitamin C to limit the oxidative stress that iron can cause when it enters cells.
• Folic Acid (400 mcg) is required for healthy red blood cell production; without adequate folate, absorbed iron cannot be used effectively.
• Zinc (7.5 mg) is itself involved in iron absorption and participates in superoxide-dismutase enzymes.
• Copper (0.6 mg) works alongside zinc in mitochondrial cytochrome systems that support the biological use of iron.

Together these create a formulation designed for one job: make iron absorption work better.

How to Take Kabtafer Plus

For prevention / everyday absorption support

• 1 tablet daily, taken just before the main meal (typically lunch or dinner).

For established iron deficiency

• 2 tablets daily, taken before the main meals, as advised by a healthcare professional.

Timing and what to avoid

• Take Kabtafer Plus immediately before a meal, when the stomach is most acidic.
• Do not take within 2 hours of an antacid, proton pump inhibitor (PPI), or H2-receptor blocker — these raise gastric pH and can reduce the effectiveness of the oligosaccharide mechanism.
• If you are on long-term acid-reducing medication, discuss Kabtafer Plus with your healthcare professional; dosing may be adjusted to compensate.
• A small amount of lemon or orange juice with the dose can support the acidic environment and add further vitamin C.

How long to continue

Iron stores (ferritin) rise gradually. Consistent daily use for at least 30 to 60 days is typical before measurable improvements appear on blood tests. In the published Rondanelli study, serum iron rose significantly within 30 days and ferritin within 60 days.

Who Kabtafer Plus Is For

Kabtafer Plus is suitable for adults, and is particularly useful for:

• People taking iron supplements whose ferritin or hemoglobin is not rising as expected.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women — the 400 mcg folic acid content covers the daily pregnancy requirement, and the formulation is recommended during pregnancy when advised by a qualified obstetrician.
• Vegetarians and vegans — because plant-based (non-heme) iron is harder to absorb, the oligosaccharide factor is particularly valuable. (Vegans should also ensure adequate Vitamin B12 intake.)
• Women with heavy menstrual periods experiencing chronic iron loss and fatigue.
• Patients where oral iron is poorly tolerated or contraindicated — Kabtafer Plus provides absorption support without the gastric side effects of iron salts.
• People on long-term acid-reducing medication (with healthcare professional advice) whose iron absorption is reduced.

Kabtafer Plus is not recommended for:
– Children under 11 years of age (tablet size and vitamin/mineral dosages exceed those recommended for children under 11).
– Individuals with known hypersensitivity to fish proteins. The manufacturing process substantially purifies the oligosaccharide fraction, but absolute absence of fish proteins cannot be guaranteed.

The Clinical Evidence

The formulation in Kabtafer Plus was evaluated in a published clinical study by Rondanelli, Opizzi, Andreaoni, and Trotti at the University of Pavia and the IRCCS Fondazione C. Mondino (Italy). The study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 49 fertile women with iron deficiency.

Key results

• Serum iron increased significantly in the Kabtafer Plus group after 30 days (P<0.001) and continued to improve at 60 days (P<0.005).
• Ferritin increased significantly after 60 days (P<0.05).
• 100% of patients in the Kabtafer Plus group responded to treatment.
• No side effects of any type were reported during the study.
• A statistically significant improvement in mood (Beck Questionnaire) was observed exclusively in the Kabtafer Plus group.
• Patients receiving placebo showed no significant improvement on any measure.

For a full breakdown of the study methodology and results, see The Clinical Evidence Behind Kabtafer Plus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does Kabtafer Plus contain iron?
No. Kabtafer Plus does not contain iron. It contains oligosaccharides from hydrolyzed sea fish cartilage plus Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, Zinc, and Copper — all of which support the absorption and use of iron from food or iron supplements taken separately.

Q2: Can Kabtafer Plus treat iron deficiency on its own?
For mild iron deficiency, Kabtafer Plus can improve absorption from a normal iron-rich diet and raise serum iron and ferritin levels — this was shown in the published Rondanelli study. For severe iron deficiency anemia, most healthcare professionals recommend combining Kabtafer Plus with a small dose of iron salts (5–10 mg/day). Always follow your healthcare professional’s advice.

Q3: Is Kabtafer Plus safe during pregnancy?
Kabtafer Plus is suitable for use during pregnancy when advised by a qualified healthcare professional. Its 400 mcg folic acid content corresponds exactly to the WHO-recommended daily folic acid intake for pregnancy (for preventing neural tube defects). Always consult your obstetrician before starting any supplement in pregnancy.

Q4: Will Kabtafer Plus cause constipation or other iron side effects?
Because Kabtafer Plus does not contain iron, it is not associated with the gastric side effects (constipation, nausea, dark stools) commonly linked to iron supplements. The Rondanelli study reported zero side effects.

Q5: How fast does Kabtafer Plus work?
Faster than most iron supplements. The published study showed significant improvement in serum iron within 30 days and in ferritin within 60 days. Individual results depend on starting iron levels and dietary iron intake.

Q6: Can vegetarians and vegans take Kabtafer Plus?
Yes — and it is particularly well-suited to vegetarians and vegans because it amplifies the absorption of non-heme (plant-based) iron, which is otherwise the harder form to absorb. Vegans should also ensure adequate Vitamin B12 intake.

Q7: Does Kabtafer Plus interact with other medications?
The oligosaccharide mechanism in Kabtafer Plus requires an acidic gastric environment. Antacids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole, and H2-receptor blockers raise gastric pH and can reduce its effectiveness. If you take these medications, discuss timing and dosage with your healthcare professional.

A note from Dr. Ahmed Elmenshawy

I chose to bring Kabtafer Plus to the UAE because it solves a specific, frequent, and under-recognised problem I see every week in local clinics: patients taking iron who aren’t getting better. The Rondanelli study showed that a well-designed absorption-support formulation — no iron, just the oligosaccharide factor plus cofactors — can raise serum iron by 78% in 30 days and ferritin by 80% in 60 days, with zero side effects. That’s a rare result in nutritional hematology, and it deserves to be known.

If you or your family are dealing with iron deficiency and standard iron tablets aren’t helping, talk to your pharmacist or doctor about absorption — not just intake.

— Dr. Ahmed Elmenshawy, Scientific Lead, Kabtafer Plus

Related reading

• The Clinical Evidence Behind Kabtafer Plus
• Why Your Iron Supplement Isn’t Working
• The Complete Guide to Iron Absorption
• Vitamin C and Iron: How One Unlocks the Other
• Find a Pharmacy Near You

Medical disclaimer

Kabtafer Plus is a dietary supplement. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before use, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking other medication, or have a medical condition. Not recommended for individuals with known fish-protein hypersensitivity. Keep out of reach of children. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.