Best Lactoferrin 2026: Bovine Lactoferrin Ranked by mg, Form & Cost
The best lactoferrin for most people is Best Naturals Lactoferrin: 250 mg in one capsule for $0.36, the lowest cost per 250 mg of the 5 we link. Lactoferrin is a milk protein people take for iron and immune support. For the low-iron form, buy Jarrow Formulas.
By Erin Rose Updated October 19, 2026 How we score
Costs are store prices per 250 mg of lactoferrin, checked October 19, 2026.
Our pick for: Most people
- Lactoferrin
- 250 mg1 veggie capsule
- Per 250 mg
- $0.36Vitacost price; Amazon’s can differ
- Bottle we link
- 60 capsulesA 2-month supply at 1 a day
- Iron trial dose
- 200 mg a dayThe trial we cite (Nappi 2009)
- Testing list
- Not on a list we holdBest Naturals says a lab tests it; no lab named
- Iron level
- Not statedMost labels do not say
Why we pick it It holds 250 mg of lactoferrin in one capsule, and it costs the least per 250 mg of the 5 we link. It is one ingredient, with no blend.
What you give up It is not on a public testing list, and its label does not say it is the low-iron form. If you want that form, see the low-iron pick below.
Which lactoferrin is right for you?
Every lactoferrin we link states its milligrams, so we compare them by what 250 mg costs.
Want the low-iron form (apolactoferrin)?
Apolactoferrin is lactoferrin with most of its iron removed. Jarrow Formulas is the only one we link whose label names it. It costs 2.7 times our pick per 250 mg, and it is not on a testing list.
Jarrow Formulas Lactoferrin
5.0/10 · $0.97 per 250 mg
Want 300 mg in one capsule?
Nutricost holds 300 mg in each capsule. It costs a little more than our pick per 250 mg. Nutricost says it is third-party tested but names no lab.
Nutricost Lactoferrin
7.5/10 · $0.46 per 250 mg
Do you need more than one capsule?
The iron trial we cite used 200 mg a day, and most capsules hold 250 or 300 mg. We found no trial showing that a higher dose works better. See how much lactoferrin to take.
Looking at Piping Rock or Vitamatic?
Piping Rock Lactoferrin puts 300 mg in 3 capsules, so a 90-capsule bottle lasts 30 days. Vitamatic Lactoferrin holds 250 mg a capsule, but its label says lactoferrin, not apolactoferrin. Both cost more per 250 mg than our pick: $0.69 and $0.58.
Lactoferrin we scored, ranked
We scored 5 lactoferrin products on dose, testing, cost, label and recalls. Here they are, our pick first, then by score, with why each one is or is not a pick. Costs are per 250 mg at each brand’s own price (Vitacost’s for Best Naturals and Vitamatic).
| Lactoferrin | Per 250 mg | Why it is or is not a pick |
|---|---|---|
| Best Naturals Lactoferrin8.5/10 | $0.36 | Our pick: 250 mg a capsule at the lowest cost per 250 mg |
| Nutricost Lactoferrin7.5/10 | $0.46 | 300 mg in one capsule; the brand says third-party tested |
| Vitamatic Lactoferrin6.0/10 | $0.58 | 250 mg a capsule; 1.6 times our pick’s cost |
| Piping Rock Lactoferrin6.0/10 | $0.69 | 300 mg takes 3 capsules; 1.9 times our pick’s cost |
| Jarrow Formulas Lactoferrin5.0/10 | $0.97 | Our low-iron pick: the only label naming apolactoferrin |
How to read a lactoferrin label
Look for the milligrams of lactoferrin in one serving, and count the capsules in that serving: some brands need 3 capsules for 300 mg. “Apolactoferrin” means the low-iron form. Most labels do not say, so a label that names it tells you more.
Does lactoferrin work?
The research is small. In a trial of 100 pregnant women with low iron, 200 mg of lactoferrin a day raised iron levels as much as an iron pill after 30 days, with less stomach pain and constipation (Nappi 2009). Two other pregnancy trials were retracted in 2023. A review of 6 trials found fewer chest and throat infections, and favored adding it to baby formula (Ali 2021). Two COVID-19 trials found no benefit (Navarro 2023, Matino 2023). More in our lactoferrin guide.
Questions people ask
What is apolactoferrin?
It is lactoferrin with most of its iron removed. Most labels do not say how much iron their lactoferrin carries, so a label that names apolactoferrin tells you more.
Is it safe to take every day?
For most people, yes. A hospital trial found 800 mg a day safe and well tolerated (Matino 2023). No official daily limit has been set.
Who should not take lactoferrin?
Anyone with a cow’s-milk-protein allergy. Lactoferrin is a milk protein. If you are pregnant or being treated for anemia, ask your doctor before using it in place of iron.
How we score
Five marks: does a serving hold a studied dose; is the product on a public testing list (a brand’s own testing claim, with no listing, earns half the points); what 250 mg costs at the brand’s own price against the cheapest; does the label state the amount; and the brand’s FDA recall record. Dose and testing are worth up to 3 points each, cost up to 2, label and recalls up to 1 each, for 10 in all. More on our method.
Sources
- Nappi C, et al. “Efficacy and tolerability of oral bovine lactoferrin compared to ferrous sulfate in pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia: a prospective controlled randomized study.” Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009. PubMed 19639462
- Ali AS, et al. “Lactoferrin reduces the risk of respiratory tract infections: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021. PubMed 34620326
- Navarro R, et al. “Bovine lactoferrin for the prevention of COVID-19 infection in health care personnel: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial (LF-COVID).” Biometals. 2023. PubMed 36474100
- Matino E, et al. “Effect of Lactoferrin on Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: The LAC Randomized Clinical Trial.” Nutrients. 2023. PubMed 36904283
- Retraction notices for the two pregnancy trials: PubMed 37466255 and PubMed 36658737.
- Testing lists: NSF/ANSI 173 read August 25, 2026; NSF Certified for Sport, Informed Sport, Informed Choice and USP Verified read September 22, 2026. Lactoferrin amounts and testing claims from each brand’s own page (Vitacost’s for Best Naturals and Vitamatic).