| Iron
Iron, a trace mineral, supplies energy to every cell in the body. It is a key component of hemoglobin, the blood’s oxygen-carrying pigment. Iron is also found in myoglobin, which supplies oxygen to muscles, and in compounds that keep the immune system strong. This mineral is critical to sharp mental functioning. Even slight deficiencies in iron can shorten attention span and make concentration difficult.
Normally, the body gets sufficient amounts of iron from the foods you eat. It manages to self-regulate itself, storing amounts you will need by automatically absorbing more iron when the need is high, and less when levels are adequate. Nonetheless, iron deficiency is still a significant public health problem. It can occur during periods of rapid growth--infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy--which increase the body’s demand for this mineral. In addition, women who menstruate heavily tend to have lower iron levels.
A chronically iron-poor diet or any condition characterized by prolonged bleeding (even of small amounts), such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, and rectal polyps, can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Many people develop this type of anemia, for instance, as a consequence of an NSAID-related ulcer, or one caused by months or years of regularly taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Government statistics indicate that 11% of women under age 50 and 9% of adolescents are iron-deficient. Dieters, some vegetarians, and endurance athletes may also develop iron deficiency due to the unique demands on their bodies.
If iron-deficiency anemia develops, the body has to struggle to absorb sufficient amounts of oxygen. This is the most common type of anemia. At its most severe, however, or in the presence of certain other debilitating illnesses, iron-deficiency anemia can be life-threatening. Thankfully, it is relatively easy to treat.
If your doctor has diagnosed an iron deficiency, then iron supplements can help.
Specifically, iron may help to:
Correct iron-deficiency anemia. When iron stores are too low, the lack of oxygen produces debilitating fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Iron supplementation can correct the condition. (The underlying causes of bleeding should be medically treated as well, of course.) Bear in mind that a wide range of other medical conditions and other nutritional deficiencies, such as a shortage of folic acid, might also cause these symptoms. So never take iron supplements without medical advice.
Special Tips:
--To boost the amount of iron your body absorbs, take the supplement with small amounts of meat or with foods and drinks rich in vitamin C, such as broccoli or orange juice. For the same reasons, it’s also smart to take an iron supplement along with your daily multivitamin. Vitamin A and the trace mineral molybdenum also aid iron absorption.
--Have your doctor test your blood levels in a month or two; never take iron for more than six months without retesting, so that iron overload can be avoided.
For iron deficiency anemia, ask your doctor about the most appropriate dose for your needs.
Take iron supplements with meals to minimize the chance of stomach upset. Taking the supplement with traditional breakfast foods may not be the best choice, however; even though vitamin C enhances iron absorption, coffee can interfere with it. Soy protein isolates, often used in fruit "smoothies," can also reduce iron absorption.
Calcium as well as large doses of chromium can interfere with iron absorption, so take these supplements at least two hours apart from iron.
Iron supplements can interfere with the action of a number of medications, including thyroid hormone drugs, statins (to lower cholesterol), certain antibiotics, and various Parkinson's disease drugs. So be sure to tell your doctor about any supplements you are taking in addition to your regular medications.
Iron supplements can cause stools to become dark green or black in color; this is caused by any unabsorbed iron and is harmless.
Doses of iron higher than the tolerable upper daily intake level (UL) of 45 mg can cause nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Very high doses can be fatal.
As important as iron is to a healthy body, too much is not a good thing, either. You should only take supplemental iron if a blood test identifies a true deficiency. In an estimated one million Americans, an inherited (and often undetected) disorder called hemachromatosis is present, in which too much iron is absorbed. Iron overload such as this can contribute to health problems such as heart disease.
Keep iron-containing supplements out of the reach of children. As few as five high-potency iron tablets can be fatal for a small child.
Check the labels of any multivitamin and mineral supplements you take, and add up the amounts to be sure you're not accumulating too much iron in your total daily intake.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home -
About Us -
Contact Us-
Privacy |
|
©2008 HealtheSupplements.com
We accept Visa and MasterCard. We also
accept money orders and checks upon request.
No
claims found on our web pages or in print have been evaluated by the Food
and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease. Information on this site is provided for
informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice
provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. You should
consult with a health care professional before starting any diet, exercise
or supplement program.
www.healthesupplements.com and its associates are not
responsible for product claims made by manufacturers on this website. Our
objective is to continuously update our website with accurate product
information. However,
www.healthesupplements.com is not responsible for
typographical errors or product formulation changes. For absolute accuracy,
please consult the products actual label before use. If you discover any
inconsistencies on our website, please contact us. Prices and information on
these pages are subject to change without notice.
The supplements, product descriptions, and
information on this website and received from our customer service is
provided as a service to you, our customer.
Our web site/customer service cannot, and
does not, contain information about all medical conditions. It may not
contain all information that is applicable to your personal
circumstances. The content is not intended for diagnosis and should not
be used as substitute for consultation with your physician. Any and all
recommendations or claims implied by the website, manufacturers, or
customer service representatives are not guaranteed and we do not take
responsibility for the results of your supplementation decisions.
As partial consideration for your access to
our website, customer service and use of its content, your agree that
www.healthesupplements.com
is not liable to you in any manner whatsoever for decisions you may make
or your actions or nonactions in reliance upon the content. You also
agree that the aggregate liability of
www.healthesupplements.com
arising from or related to your use and access, regardless of the form
of action or claim (for example, contract, warranty, tort, negligence,
strict liability, professional malpractice, fraud, infringement or other
bases for claims), is limited to the purchase price of any items you
purchased from
www.healthesupplements.com
in the applicable transaction.
www.HealtheSupplements.com
CustomerService@HealtheSupplements.com
|
|
|
