Without medical treatment, people with hereditary hemochromatosis can develop serious problems such as liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and heart disease. People with this disorder should avoid using iron supplements and vitamin C supplements.
have any other conditions that affect your iron levels, such as haemochromatosis or haemosiderosis. have a condition that affects your red blood cells, such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassaemia. have a stomach ulcer, or other stomach or bowel problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Older adults who have unusually high levels of iron are also at increased risk for diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and various types of cancer. There have also been correlations found between excess iron and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
Iron tablets may cause other drugs you are taking to not work as well. Some of these include tetracycline, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, and drugs used for Parkinson's disease and seizures. Medicines that reduce stomach acid will impair iron absorption and may cause iron deficiency.
Do not regularly take large amounts of iron for longer than 6 months without checking with your health care professional. People differ in their need for iron, and those with certain medical conditions can gradually become poisoned by taking too much iron over a period of time.
There is limited evidence about the benefits of giving iron to people who do not have anaemia. If there is iron deficiency, most people can be given oral iron supplements.
Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach, with water or fruit juice (adults: full glass or 8 ounces; children: ½ glass or 4 ounces), about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals. However, to lessen the possibility of stomach upset, iron may be taken with food or immediately after meals.
You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath. Iron deficiency can cause you to have unusual cravings for non-food items such as ice, dirt or paper.
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.
Common iron supplement side effects include constipation, diarrhea, dark stools, and a metallic taste in your mouth.
Too little or too much iron has detrimental effects on the body and can lead to arrhythmia and blood pressure anomalies. Chronic heart failure patients are more prone to iron deficiency.
However, one possible alternative is a diet high in iron-rich foods. Eating iron-rich foods with a good source of vitamin C as part of the same meal can improve the body's absorption of iron. The following foods are high in vitamin C: oranges.
Some people may notice an improvement in energy and other anemia symptoms. People without noticeable anemia symptoms may see little change. People often begin responding to iron pills within 2 weeks . A doctor can monitor if supplementation is working by performing a blood test.
Most people should be able to get all the iron they need by eating a varied and balanced diet. If you take iron supplements, do not take too much as this could be harmful. Taking 17mg or less a day of iron supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. But continue taking a higher dose if advised to by a GP.
Absorption of iron from the gut is reduced by food, tea and milk, so these should be avoided for one hour before and after taking the iron supplement. Some medications also affect absorption of iron from the gut, particularly medications which reduce stomach acid (antacids) and certain antibiotics.
A feeling of fatigue and tiredness is one of the most common signs of iron deficiency. Especially if it does not go away with rest. Iron helps to form haemoglobin, which is required by the body to carry oxygen from the lungs and transport it throughout the body.
In fact, too much iron can be toxic so taking supplements when you don't need them can make you very unwell and possibly lead to a potentially deadly overdose – especially for young children.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Some women with unexplained fatigue may get a bit more pep from iron supplements - even if they do not have full-blown anemia, a new clinical trial suggests. The study focused on women who were chronically tired and had relatively low iron stores.
However, too much iron is toxic. Excess iron gets deposited in your organs, and this then interferes with normal body functions, as well as the production of hormones that regulate your metabolism and sex drive. Not surprisingly, you don't feel well.