The Life Extension Editorial Staff
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 Coffee, alcohol, excess iron supplementation, sugar, tobacco, and mineral oil can also interfere with vitamin A absorption. Food sources of lutein are kale, Brussels sprouts, corn, collards, spinach, and egg yolks. Egg yolks have tiny amounts of lutein—about 0.2 mg a yolk—because chickens eat corn (Carper 2002). Lycopene is present in tomatoes and several other red fruits. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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 Immune system effects of excessive iron include the reduction of macrophage phagocytosis and increased susceptibility to infection. iron supplementation during an acute infection may reduce host resistance. Unless iron deficiency is present, iron supplementation should be avoided in any kind of malignancy, as it favors tumor growth.
Essential Fatty Acids
For a discussion on the benefits of essential fatty acids, as well as recommended sources and amounts, see pages 48-51. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
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| Many people who need EPO treatment also need iron supplementation because EPO alone will not relieve the effects of anemia if iron levels are too low. Sometimes iron can be taken in a pill form, but according to the NIDDK, iron pills often do not work as well in people with kidney failure as iron given intravenously. Iron supplements should only be taken if prescribed by a physician based on blood analysis (National Kidney Foundation 200le).
In addition to EPO and iron, some people also need vitamin Bp2 and folic acid supplements. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 If a nutritionally oriented doctor diagnoses iron deficiency, iron supplementation is essential. A common adult dose is 100 mg per day. When iron deficiency is diagnosed, the doctor must also determine the cause. Usually it's not serious (such as normal menstrual blood loss or blood donation). Occasionally, however, iron deficiency signals ulcers or even colon cancer.
Many premenopausal women become marginally iron deficient unless they supplement with iron. Even so, the 18 mg of iron present in most multiple-vitamin/mineral supplements is often adequate. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 These observations lead us to the conclusion that iron supplementation is probably contraindicated during acute infection. However, in patients with impaired immune function, chronic infections, and subnormal iron levels, adequate supplementation is essential.
Zinc
The hereditary zinc-deficiency disease, acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE), offers an ex-
However, rather than supplementing the diet with synthetic beta-carotene, it may be more advantageous to use natural carotene sources or increase the intake of carotene-rich foods. |
Gary Null
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 Pregnancy and lactation are other times when women need iron supplementation. During childbearing years, many women experience anemia caused by an iron deficiency.
444 Get Healthy Now!
"Supplementation may not solve the problem because many people have difficulty absorbing iron. They lack enough hydrochloric acid, the stomach acid that helps the body assimilate iron. This is common among the elderly, who generally produce less hydrochloric acid. Another cause of decreased iron absorption is chronic diarrhea.
"Vitamin B12 deficiency is most often due to a defect in absorption. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| In addition, iron supplementation was associated in one study with an increased incidence of birth defects," possibly as a result of an iron-induced deficiency of zinc. Although additional research needs to be done, the evidence suggests that women who are supplementing with iron during pregnancy should also take a multiple vitamin/mineral (p. 314) formula that contains adequate amounts of zinc. To be on the safe side, pregnant women should discuss their supplement program with a nutritionally oriented doctor.
Supplementation with niacin (p. |
| Maternal zinc during oral iron supplementation in pregnancy: a preliminary study. Clin Sci 1989; 76: 59-65.
12. Mukherjee MD, Sandscead HH, Ratnaparkhi MV, et al. Maternal zinc, iron, folic acid, and protein nutriture and outcome of human pregnancy. Am J Clin Nutr 1984; 40: 496-507.
13. Nelson MM, Forfar JO. Associations between drugs administered during pregnancy and congenital abnormalities of the fetus. Br Med J 1971; 1: 523-527.
14. Doyle W et al. The association between maternal diet and birth dimensions. / Nutr Med 1990; 1: 9-17.
15. Truswell AS. |
| Serum zinc changes due to iron supplementation in teenage pregnancy. Am J Clin Nutr 1990; 50: 848-52.
21. Crofton RW, Gvozdanovic D, Gvozdanovic S, et al. Inorganic zinc and the intestinal absorption of ferrous iron. Am J Clin Nutr 1989; 50: 141-44.
22. Argiratos V, Samman S. The effect of calcium carbonate and calcium citrate on the absorption of zinc in healthy female subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 1994; 48: 198-204.
23. Spencer H, Norris C, Williams D. Inhibitory effects of zinc on magnesium balance and magnesium absorption in man. / Am Coll Nutr 1994; 13: 479-84.
24. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Results of this study indicated that intravenous iron saccharate may be an effective treatment for children suffering from chronic anemia who do not respond to oral iron supplementation.
—A. Martini, et al., "Intravenous Iron Therapy for Severe Anaemia in Systemic-onset Juvenile Chronic Arthritis," Lancet, 344(8929), October 15, 1994, p. 1052-1054.
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of daily supplemental iron (60 mg) and vitamin A (2.4 mg of retinol) for 8 weeks on anemic pregnant women in West Java. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| This need for continual iron supplementation even after deficiency has been overcome should be determined by a doctor.
Taking vitamin A (p. 336) and iron together has been reported to help overcome iron deficiency more effectively than iron supplements alone.7 Although the optimal amount of vitamin A needed to help people with iron deficiency has yet to be established, some doctors of natural medicine recommend 10,000 IU per day.
Vitamin C (p. 341) increases the absorption of iron. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| Restless-legs syndrome and myoclonus may respond to folic acid therapy, iron supplementation, and other nutritional therapies.
Valerian and passionflower can promote improved sleep quality and relief of insomnia.
One of the key benefits of using 5-HTP to treat insomnia is its ability to increase REM sleep (typically by about twenty-five percent) while simultaneously increasing deep-sleep Stages 3 and 4, without increasing total sleep time.6 The sleep stages that are reduced to compensate for the increases are non-REM Stages 1 and 2, the least important stages of sleep. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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| Unless iron deficiency is present, iron supplementation should be avoided in any kind of malignancy, as it favors tumor growth.
Essential Fatty Acids
For a discussion on the benefits of essential fatty acids, as well as recommended sources and amounts, see pages 48-51.
Amino Acids30
Amino acids, the building blocks of protein, support the growth, repair, and maintenance of every system of your body. Amino acids serve multiple roles as constituents of antibodies, hormones, neurotransmitters, enzymes, skin, muscle, bone, blood, connective tissue, hair, nails . . . everything. |
Kathi Keville
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 Public Health Service, a federal agency), "There is currently little evidence to suggest that routine iron supplementation during pregnancy is beneficial."
Instead you might want to try yellow dock root, a more easily assimilated source of iron. Yellow dock contains only a small amount of this important mineral, yet herbalists consider it one of the most effective herbs for raising your iron level. Although the way that this herb increases iron remains a mystery, the proof is in the results. |
Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon
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 If anemia results, however, iron supplementation (20 to 50 mg) may be necessary. A blood test is needed for this diagnosis.
Indomethacin Indocin
Indomethacin irritates the stomach lining even more than aspirin. Over time, continued low-level blood loss could lead to iron deficiency. If anemia occurs, a supplement of 20 to 50 mg of iron daily may be needed.
Iron
Methotrexate Folex Methotrate Mexate Rheumatrex
Methotrexate affects the intestinal wall so that these nutrients are not absorbed efficiently. Nutritional imbalances may result. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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| Other individuals may need iron supplementation for anemia or low iron stores. B complex (25 to 50 milligrams a day) and magnesium (up to 400 milligrams a day) are added as general metabolic enhancers.
These nutrients, with the exception of tyrosine, can usually be found together in a high-potency vitamin/mineral. Tyrosine can be found separately or in some combination thyroid-enhancing supplements.
• Naturopathic physicians have long prescribed a thyroid glandular extract and sometimes a pituitary extract to treat hypothyroidism. |
| Note: Your physician should monitor the amount and duration of iron supplementation, as well as the cause of low iron stores.
HERBAL REMEDIES
• To help with symptomatic acute relief of excess menstrual bleeding, take a combination shepherd's purse, geranium, and trillium tincture, or a combination milium and viburnum tincture (Vi teaspoon every fifteen to thirty minutes during waking hours for either combination). If not effective within six doses, discontinue the remedy. Shepherd's purse tea is effective only if the tincture is made from the fresh herb. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
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 Nutrient
Daily Amount
Calcium
1,200 milligrams
Iron
30 milligrams
Plus a multivitamin/mineral supplement containing the
Recommended Dietary Allowances for pregnant women
MEDICAL ALERT: While doctors routinely recommend iron supplementation for women who are pregnant, you should talk to your doctor before taking more than the Daily Value, which is 18 milligrams. A daily intake of 25 milligrams or more for an extended period of time may cause undesirable side effects.
Neural tube formation happens early in pregnancy, during the third and fourth weeks. |
Janet Zand, LAc, OMD, Allan N. Spreed, MD, CNC, James B. LaValle, RPh, ND
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 If you are taking supplementary iron (see under Nutritional Supplements, below), your diet should also include extra fiber and liquids to prevent constipation, which is an occasional side effect of iron supplementation.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS
The nutritional supplements recommended here are intended to support recovery once appropriate emergency medical care has been administered and you are well enough to leave the hospital. If you are bleeding profusely, seek emergency medical care immediately.
¦ Chlorophyll has trace minerals that assist the body in rebuilding blood. |
Neal Barnard, M.D.
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 The reason for testing before using iron supplements is that iron supplementation may prolong pregnancy and lead to a slightly increased risk of complications.37 free radicals from your fryer
Let's pop down to a fast-food restaurant for an order of fries. They're cooked in vegetable oil nowadays, so they must be healthy. And while we're at it, how about a fish sandwich? Fish is a health food, right?
These are risky ideas because iron is not the only thing that encourages the production of free radicals. Oils do, too. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Chwang, et al., "Iron Supplementation and Physical Growth of Rural Indonesian Children," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 47(3), March 1988, p. 496-501.
Results of this study showed that 60 mg of supplemental iron over a 17 week period led to a significant positive change in hemoglobin status of pregnant plantation workers in Sri Lanka, thus reducing the risk of anemia in pregnancy.
—T.M. Atukorala, et al. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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| For this reason, many practitioners are electing to use heme iron over non-heme iron sources when iron supplementation is necessary.
Despite the superiority of heme iron, non-heme iron salts are the most popular iron supplements. One reason is that even though heme-iron is better absorbed, it is easy to take higher quantities of non-heme iron salts so that the net amount of iron absorbed is about equal. In other words, if you take 3 mg of heme iron and 50 mg of non-heme iron the net absorption for each will be about the same. The best form of non-heme iron is ferrous succinate. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Newborns
Results of this study showed that maternal iron supplementation was effective in improving haemotolical patterns in neonates and promoting early infant growth.
—A.A. Khashaba, et al., "Assessment of Parameters of Physical Growth of the Newborn in Relation to Maternal Supplementation with Iron Alone or with Some Biological Additives," Gaz Egypt Paediatr Assoc, 24(1-2), January-April 1976, p. 59-68. |
| Seshadri,' 'Growth Performance in Anemia and Following iron supplementation," Indian Pediatr, 30(2), February 1993, p. 195-200.
Cognitive Function
This double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined the effects of 13 mg per day of supplemental iron for 8 weeks on cognitive function in adolescent girls with non-anemic iron deficiency. Results showed that girls receiving iron scored higher on verbal learning and memory tests relative to controls. —A.B. Bruner, et al. |
| Intravenous iron supplementation for the Treatment of the Anemia of Moderate to Severe Chronic Renal Failure Patients not Receiving Dialysis," American Journal of Kidney Disease, 27(2), February 1996, p. 234-238.
This study examined the efficacy of 100 U/kg of recombinant human erythropoietin administered subcutaneously three times per week in combination with 9 g/1 human breast milk and 18 mg of iron per day for 3-8 weeks in raising haemoglobin concentrations among healthy, low birth weight infants. |
| Decreased Rate of Stunting Among Anemic Indonesian Preschool Children through iron supplementation," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 58(3), September 1993, p. 339-342.
Results of this study showed that supplementation with 200 mg of intravenous iron monthly over a period of 5 months in severe chronic renal failure patients suffering from anemia and not receiving dialysis led to significant improvements in anemia among two thirds of them.
—D.S. Silverberg, et al. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
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 The production of tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in the production of dopa (the precursor of dopamine), apparently can be stimulated by iron supplementation. However, consult with your physician before taking supplemental iron.
ž If you are taking levodopa, avoid taking supplements of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). However, if you are not taking this drug, vitamin B6 can be very beneficial because the production of dopamine depends on the presence of adequate amounts of this vitamin. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
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| Still, doctors normally recommend iron supplementation for pregnant women and for infants.
Among the variety of iron supplements, experts say those made with ferrous salts are better absorbed. Among them, ferrous sulfate is considered best.
Slow-release and coated iron tablets may cause less diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain, but since the site of maximum absorption is the beginning of the small intestine, delaying the time of release decreases the overall amount of iron absorbed by your body. |
James Braly M.D. and Ron Hoggan M.A.
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 Excess iron can pose a hazard to men, postmenopausal women, those who frequently eat red meat, and those who regularly supplement with large doses of vitamin C (over 500 to 1,000 mg daily). iron supplementation should be managed in collaboration with your doctor on the basis of regular blood tests that have confirmed existing iron deficiency.
To repeat, do not take iron supplements unless you need them. Excessive iron can cause potentially life-threatening damage to the heart, liver, and pancreas. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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 However, more recent data indicate that iron supplementation has no significant effect on guaic or other tests for occult blood.
OVERDOSAGE
Acute iron overdosage can be divided into four stages. In the first stage, which occurs up to six hours after ingestion, the principal symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. Other symptoms include hypotension, tachycardia and CNS depression ranging from lethargy to coma. The second phase may occur at 6-24 hours after ingestion and is characterized by a temporary remission. |
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