It's easy to get 8 milligrams of iron daily by eating a healthy diet. The ODS cautions that women over 50 shouldn't take iron supplements unless prescribed by a doctor to avoid overloading on iron, which could potentially cause organ damage. The government's upper tolerable limit for iron is 45 milligrams daily.
They also need to get enough vitamin C, which helps the body absorb iron from food. The USDA recommends that women between the ages of 19 and 50 get 18 mg of iron a day, while women ages 51 and older and men 19 years and beyond need 8 mg a day.
Elderly people sometimes do not absorb iron as easily as younger adults and may need a larger dose. If you think you need to take an iron supplement, check with your health care professional first. Only your health care professional can decide if you need an iron supplement and how much you should take.
Yes, but not too much or not at all if advised by their doctor because of a specific condition where iron may be contraindicated.
In healthy people, taking high doses of iron supplements (especially on an empty stomach) can cause an upset stomach, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Large amounts of iron might also cause more serious effects, including inflammation of the stomach lining and ulcers.
Extreme fatigue. Weakness. Pale skin. Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
The fact is these days, most women need iron supplements. Iron plays a key role in the health and well-being of women and yet, according to the CDC, 1 in 10 women is at risk for an iron deficiency.
"Iron can participate in reactions that create 'free radicals,' which are compounds that are known to damage DNA and accelerate cellular aging," she says. "In animal studies, this damage has been associated with signs of aging such as muscle wasting, brain tissue injury, and shortened lifespan."
Iron supplements may cause side effects, including stomach discomfort, constipation, dark stool and nausea. An iron supplement of 25 mg elemental iron or more a day can also cause your body to absorb less zinc. Zinc is an important mineral for a number of roles, including immune system function and wound healing.
Answer: You are wise to be cautious about taking extra iron. Typically, iron supplementation is not recommended for postmenopausal women, because as women age, their need for iron goes down. Some recent research has shown that postmenopausal women may be at risk for anemia.
It is usually the result of chronic gastrointestinal diseases which could lead to iron losses, malabsorption, or both. IDA is most often the result of chronic gastrointestinal blood loss caused by esophagitis, gastritis, ulcer, colon cancer, pre-malignant polyps, or angiodysplasia.
Iron-Rich Foods
Heme iron is found in meat, fish and poultry. It is the form of iron that is most readily absorbed by your body. You absorb up to 30 percent of the heme iron that you consume. Eating meat generally boosts your iron levels far more than eating non-heme iron.
Ferrous salts (ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, and ferrous gluconate) are the best absorbed iron supplements and are often considered the standard compared with other iron salts.
Most older adults can get all the nutrients they need from foods. But if you aren't sure, always talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian to find out if you are missing any important vitamins or minerals. Your doctor or dietitian may recommend a vitamin or dietary supplement.
Do not take iron supplements by mouth if you are receiving iron injections. To do so may result in iron poisoning. Do not regularly take large amounts of iron for longer than 6 months without checking with your health care professional.
Weight gain related to iron therapy is a common problem in female patients with iron deficiency anemia. Patients under iron therapy should be counseled in terms of weight gain complication and benefits of diet and followed up serum ferritin and Hgb levels to prevent prolonged iron therapy.