Heme iron polypeptide is an oral form of elemental iron derived from bovine hemoglobin that exploits heme-specific intestinal transport, leading to higher bioavailability and often better gastrointestinal tolerability than many non‑heme iron salts, though evidence on superiority is mixed and context dependent. Studies suggest HIP can maintain or improve iron indices in chronic kidney disease and pregnancy and, in some settings, approximate intravenous iron efficacy, but high-quality head‑to‑head trials show variable advantages over ferrous salts for hemoglobin and ferritin endpoints.