Jack Challem
See book keywords and concepts |
 Over the next year, Claire took still more iron supplements and also calcium supplements, but follow-up tests indicated that she was still anemic and her bones even thinner.
A nutritionally oriented physician suspected that Claire had celiac disease, an intolerance of gluten protein in wheat, barley, and rye. He ordered two tests: a genetic test for the presence of the HLA-DQ2 gene, which is often seen in people with celiac disease, and antitissue transglutaminase, a frequent marker of gluten sensitivity. The doctor's hunch was correct. Both tests came back positive. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
See book keywords and concepts |
 Boron (picolinate or citrate)
3-6 mg
"You should take iron supplements only if you have been diag-
Calcium (citrate, ascorbate, or malate)
1,500-2,000 mg nosed with a deficiency of this mineral. Always take iron supple-
Chromium (GTF, picolinate, or polynicotinate)
150-400 meg ments separately, rather than in a multivitamin and mineral formula.
Copper
2-3 mg
'"See amino acids for more information. You should not take indi-
Iodine (kelp is a good source)
100-225 meg vidual amino acids on a regular basis unless you are using them for the treatment of a specific disorder. |
Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan
See book keywords and concepts |
 If you are anemic, do not rush out and buy iron supplements, or worse, add lots of meat to your diet. Instead, work with your doctor to find out what kind of anemia you have and why it occurred. Anemia can be a sign of kidney disease, it can be caused by certain drugs, and it can be a sign of blood loss from your digestive tract caused by gastrointestinal irritation or even colon cancer. It is essential that you be evaluated and treated appropriately.
If you do need extra iron, turn first to greens and beans. |
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN
See book keywords and concepts |
 Lesser risk factors included taking iron supplements or catching the flu during the first trimester of pregnancy. There were no significant differences pertaining to maternal smoking, drinking, age or having twins. The researchers concluded: "It is important to note that there is biological evidence that vegetarians have a greater exposure to phytoestrogens and thus a causal link is biologically feasible. ... |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
See book keywords and concepts |
| Avoid taking excess zinc and iron supplements until healed. Taking over 100 mg of zinc daily can depress the immune system; bacteria require iron for growth. If a bacterial infection is present, the body stores iron in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow in order to prevent further growth of the bacteria.
Q Do not delay emptying the bladder. Making sure that you urinate every two to three waking hours—"voiding by the clock"—can help.
Q Keep the genital and anal areas clean and dry. |
Michael T. Murray
See book keywords and concepts |
 Ferritin (an iron-binding protein) above 200 mcg/L: Eliminate red meat from the diet, avoid iron supplements, and increase consumption of whole grains þLipid peroxides elevated: No specific additional recommendations; be sure to follow the foundation supplement program for type 2 diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy þBilberry extract?60 to 320 mg daily; or grapeseed extract?50 to 300 mg daily
Diabetic Neuropathy þGamma-linolenic acid from borage, evening primrose, or blackcurrant oil?80 mg daily þCapsaicin (0. |
| Ferritin (an iron-binding protein) above 200 mcg/L: Eliminate red meat from the diet, avoid iron supplements, and increase consumption of whole grains þLipid peroxides elevated: No specific additional recommendations; be sure to follow the foundation supplement program for type 1 diabetes
Diabetic Retinopathy þBilberry extract?60 to 320 mg daily; or grapeseed extract?50 to 300 mg daily
Diabetic Neuropathy þGamma-linolenic acid from borage, evening primrose, or blackcurrant oil?80 mg daily þCapsaicin (0. |
| Ferritin (an iron-binding protein) above 200 mcg/L: Eliminate red meat from the diet, avoid iron supplements, and increase consumption of whole grains. Be sure to have an assessment for hemochromatosis (including transferrin saturation and genetic testing if indicated). þLipid peroxides elevated: Follow recommendations in Chapter 7 and add garlic and a flavonoid-rich extract
Way) and Garlic Factors (Natural Factors). So if you want to see results, we recommend using one of these two brands. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
See book keywords and concepts |
| Do not take calcium, vitamin E, zinc, or antacids at the same time as iron supplements. These can interfere with iron absorption.
Considerations
þ The following foods are among the highest in iron content, with over 5 milligrams of iron per average serving: kidney beans, pinto beans, liver (eat only liver from organically raised animals), blackstrap molasses, rice bran, raw beet greens (not the beets), mustard greens, lentils, dried peaches, and prune juice. |
| If you take both zinc and iron supplements, take them at different times. If these two minerals are taken together, they interfere with each other's activity.
Cautions
Do not take a total of more than 100 milligrams of zinc daily. While daily doses less than 100 milligrams enhance the immune response, doses of more than 100 milligrams can depress the immune system.
Air
INTRODUCTION
Air is what we breathe. It is made up almost entirely of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, some water vapor, and tiny amounts of inert gases such as krypton, neon, and helium. |
| Cautions
Do not take iron supplements if you have an infection. Because bacteria require iron for growth, the body "hides" iron in the liver and other storage sites when an infection is present. Taking extra iron at such times encourages the proliferation of bacteria in the body.
Magnesium
Magnesium is a vital catalyst in enzyme activity, especially the activity of those enzymes involved in energy production. It also assists in calcium and potassium uptake. A deficiency of magnesium interferes with the transmission of nerve and muscle impulses, causing irritability and nervousness. |
Joseph E. Mario
See book keywords and concepts |
 Women not taking iron supplements would have to consume 3000 Calories per day to get the R.D.A. of 18 mg.; women typically consume only 1200-1500-2000Caloriesaday.
IRON SOURCES: Sea vegetables, nori, whole grains, leafy greens, nuts, beans, and vegetables (mainly as Iron Phosphates); dulse and kelp 100, mustard greens 60, alfalfa 28%, formation of chlorophyll granules, hij iki 29, rice bran 19, potato flour 17, molasses 16, black beans 15.8, pumpkin and squash seeds 15.7, sesame seeds 15, garbanzos 13.8,wakame 13, alariaand sorghum syrup 13,nattoandpintos 12. |
Neal D. Barnard and Bryanna Clark Grogan
See book keywords and concepts |
| For adults, it is a good idea to choose a multivitamin without iron because most people already have plenty of stored iron and do not need more (if you have a history of anemia, your doctor should advise you about whether you need iron supplements). Also, choose a vegetarian formula (all health food stores carry them). It will supply vitamin A as beta-carotene rather than as preformed vitamin A, which can be toxic if you overdo it.
Sometimes meat eaters imagine that they are getting complete nutrition without a multivitamin. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Check with your physician before taking iron supplements.
Daily Requirement
The RDA for iron is 8 mg per day for adult men, 18 mg per day for women ages 19 to 50, and 8 mg per day for women ages 51 and up.
Safety and Side Effects
The body excretes very littie iron, so it has a moderate to high potential to cause toxic damage. Excessive amounts of iron can cause diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of the liver, and heart damage.
The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is 45 mg iron per day for males and females ages 14 and up. For children up to the age of 14, the UL is 40 mg daily. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
See book keywords and concepts |
| If you do need to take iron supplements, do not take them at the same time as vitamin E, and choose an organic form of iron such as ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate. Inorganic forms of iron, such as ferrous sulfate, can oxidize vitamin E. The RDA for iron is 8 milligrams per day for adult men, 12 milligrams a day for male children above age ten, and 18 milligrams per day for adult women and girls over eleven years of age (27 milligrams for pregnant women).
There must be sufficient hydrochloric acid (HC1) present in the stomach in order for iron to be absorbed. |
Patrick Holford
See book keywords and concepts |
 This theory is yet to be proven, but it suggests that meat-eating men should not go overboard on iron supplements. In practice, this means limiting the dose to 10 mg a day unless you are deficient.
Zinc—a major role player
A large part of the population is at risk of being zinc-deficient. With half the population eating less than half the recommended daily allowance (RDA), few people get enough from their diet. |
David Hoffman, FNIMH, AHG
See book keywords and concepts |
 Other factors that can cause or exacerbate constipation during pregnancy are consumption of iron supplements and starchy meals consisting of refined flour products.
As already noted, anthraquinone-containing stimulant laxatives are not safe for use during pregnancy. Aim for gentle therapy, utilizing the following treatment considerations and the guidelines given in chapter 13.
Increase water intake to 8 glasses per day. Increase exercise. Walking half a mile a day is an appropriate activity.
Increase intake of fresh fruits and certain dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and figs. |
| The best approach is to increase dietary intake of iron-containing foods, as iron supplements may aggravate constipation. All iron-containing foods are better absorbed in the presence of an animal protein. Vitamin C also enhances iron absorption. Watercress, rose hips, blackberries, black currants, elderberries, parsley, spinach, dandelion leaves, and many other plant foods contain both iron and vitamin C, and natural iron never causes constipation.
Liver is a good source of iron; however, it should come from organically produced meat only. |
| Is the patient taking drugs that effect bowel motility—for example, opiates, iron supplements, some antidepressants, antacids, and laxatives?
Are any digestive conditions present, such as irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, or food sensitivities?
Does the patient have a sedentary lifestyle, or have there been long periods of immobility?
Is the patient under stress or suffering from depression?
To ease bowel movements, a diet with medium- to high-fiber content is necessary. This should be introduced gradually if the patient is accustomed to low-fiber foods. |
Leo Galland
See book keywords and concepts |
 Low-dose iron supplements can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if those people have mild iron deficiency.83 Presumably, correcting iron deficiency improves metabolism and immunity.
It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain sixty to three hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than can even be absorbed from a single pill. High-dose iron supplements, taken orally or by injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infection. Studies in Southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose iron can be harmful. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
See book keywords and concepts |
 Iron does not appear on the ASTDR's "Top 20 List," but it is a heavy metal of concern, particulatly because ingesting dietary iron supplements may acutely poison young childten (e.g., as few as five to nine 30-mg iron tablets for a 30-lb child).
Ingestion accounts for most of the toxic effects of iron because iron is absorbed rapidly in the gastrointestinal tract. The corrosive nature of iron seems to further increase the absorption. Most overdoses appear to be the result of children mistaking red-coated ferrous sulfate tablets or adult multivitamin preparations for candy. |
Leo Galland
See book keywords and concepts |
| When iron supplements are given to Somali nomads or Masai people, their rate of infection increases, even though their iron deficiency is corrected.85 The high frequency of negative responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the interaction between iron and zinc.
Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and supplemental iron can aggravate zinc deficiency, which profoundly depresses immune function. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for zinc, 12 to 15 mg/day, is based on the assumption that 40 percent of the zinc that is swallowed is absorbed into the body. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
See book keywords and concepts |
| The Life Extension Foundation does not recommend iron supplements unless blood testing teveals iron-deficiency anemia.
Amino Acids Arginine
Arginine is one of the essential amino acids. In addition to the benefits often associated with arginine
(e.g., in hypertension, age-related protein synthesis, and wound healing), studies indicate that arginine is also protective against sensorineural hearing loss and cochlear damage caused by the toxins that are produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae infections (Amaee et al. 1995). |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Fatigue
Many people believe they should take iron supplements if they have fatigue, but that's only true in some cases. While fatigue can be a major symptom of iron deficiency, lack of the mineral is only one possible cause. If your fatigue has another cause, but you start taking iron anyway, the supplement can actually make your fatigue worse.
^ Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Obviously, it makes sense to take iron supplements if you know for sure you have this condition. Be patient, though, because it may take months for more severe iron deficiencies to be brought back to the normal ranges. |
| If you're taking iron supplements, be sure to keep them in a secure cabinet where children can't reach them. An overdose of iron can lead to digestive tract damage, nausea, vomiting, liver failure, and possibly death. Iron is the most common cause of accidental poisoning in children.
IRON
Recommendations from the Natural Physician for ...
Fatigue
Many people believe they should take iron supplements if they have fatigue, but that's only true in some cases. While fatigue can be a major symptom of iron deficiency, lack of the mineral is only one possible cause. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
See book keywords and concepts |
| Comment: Adequate amounts of iron are absolutely essential to good health, but using iron supplements or iron fortified foods is not recommended for men or postmenopausal women, unless diagnosed with an iron deficiency. It is judged that approximately one of every 200 people actually has iron overload disease. Read the sections devoted to Heredity and Chelation Therapy in this protocol to learn more about hemochromatosis.
NEWER RISK FACTORS
In the last 25 yeats, the incidence of coronary fatalities has decreased 33%. This is due largely to avoiding the traditional risk factors. Dr. Paul M. |
Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
See book keywords and concepts |
 Taking iron supplements may lead to stomachaches and constipation. Iron drops are difficult to digest. The form of iron known as ferrous fumarate is more easily absorbed and causes less irritation to the intestines. As with all medicines, always store iron-containing supplements in childproof bottles and in locations where children cannot reach them. Accidental overdoses of iron-containing supplements are the leading cause of poisoning deaths for children under age six in the United States. |
| These women may need to take iron supplements. However, because too-high levels of iron pose dangers of their own (an excess of free radicals in the body and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease), you should not take supplemental iron unless your doctor diagnoses anemia by means of a blood test and prescribes supplements for you.
This is the time of life to build up your bones, with a view toward preventing osteoporosis later in life. There are two key aspects to this. First, the body must have an adequate supply of bone-building minerals. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
See book keywords and concepts |
| Alternative medicine has finally recognized the dangers of supplemental iron, yet the Life Extension Foundation warned its members to avoid iron supplements way back in 1983. This warning was issued because of evidence that high levels of iron increase the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Until recently, most multivitamin formulas contained high amounts of iron (and some still do). Based on the Foundation's warning, members avoided iron-containing supplements unless blood tests showed them to be iron deficient. |
Earl Mindell
See book keywords and concepts |
 Keep your iron supplements safely out of reach of children.
Coffee drinkers, as well as tea drinkers, be aware that if you consume large quantities of either beverage you are most likely inhibiting your iron absorption.
If you are pregnant, check with your doctor before taking iron or iron-fortified vitamin supplements. (Iron poisoning has been found in children whose mothers have taken too many pills during pregnancy.)
Do not take iron supplements if you have an infection. Bacteria require iron for growth and extra iron would encourage their increase. |
Email this page to a friend
