Dietary Iron Deficiency
and Iron Supplements

The most common nutritional deficiency is dietary iron deficiency. If there is one nutrient your body might be lacking, odds are it may be the iron mineral.

Deficiency can cause fatigue, restless legs, anemia, excessive menstrual flow, lack of physical energy, iron poor blodd, and low immune function.

Yet you don't want to take too much iron. And some forms are better than others.

Iron is one of the most powerful minerals and iron supplements should be used with caution.

The best way to get iron into your diet is to eat iron rich foods, such as spinach, wheat bran, beef and chicken, and fortified breakfast cereals.

In reality, few people eat enough iron rich foods to give them the needed daily amount.

This is where dietary supplements may be of benefit. Many daily multi-vitamin and mineral formulas do not contain iron, because of the potential of stomach upset, and the worry that it can cause accidental poisoning in children.

Those who want to add dietary iron to their daily supplement intake should consult their doctor. They may want to try chelated iron supplements which are thought to be softer on the stomach.

Be careful with iron and do not take more than recommended. Always keep all iron containing mineral supplements tightly closed and out of the reach of children.

Iron Warnings:

The treatment of any anemic condition should be under the advice and supervision of a physician. As oral iron products interfere with absorption of oral tetracycline antibiotics, these product should not be taken within two hours of each other. As with any dietary supplement, if you are pregnant or nursing a baby, seek the advice of a health professional before using any iron supplement product.

Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep iron-containing products out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, seek professional assistance or contact a poison control center immediately.

Be careful taking iron-containing products if you think you are pregnant or might be experiencing early signs of pregnancy.

Medical Reference:

(Cook JD and Lynch SR, The liabilities of iron deficiency. Blood 68, 803-809, 1986. Gardner GW, et al., Physical work capacity and metabolic stress in subjects with iron deficiency anemia. Am J Clin Nutr 30, 910-917, 1977.)






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