Michael Castleman
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 An estimated 5,000 children swallow toxic doses of iron supplements every year,- a few die. In the typical case, an adult carelessly leaves iron supplements on a bathroom or kitchen counter. Don't do this.
Watch your wallet. Ten dollars a month should do it. "If you pay more than $10 a month for your supplements," CSPI's Liebman says, "you're paying too much."
Prevention and Treatment with Supplements
As the physician trade journal Medical World Mews editorialized not too long ago-. "Vitamins aren't just supplements anymore. They're emerging as disease-fighters. |
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.
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 The amounts listed are based on the Food and Nutrition Board's Safe and Adequate daily amounts.
# iron supplements are recommended only for women during the childbearing years. Men and postmenopausal women should take iron supplements only with approval from their physicians.
Table 14.2 Fifteen Essential Nutrients You Can't Do Without
Here's a brief glance at some of the nutrients needed for health, and what you should look for when choosing a supplement.
Nutrient Vitamin A/Beta carotene
How Much? |
Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine
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 Unless a person is specifically iron deficient and not just generally anemic, iron supplements should be avoided. Taking iron supplements usually provides no help and can actually do some harm by creating free-radical damage.
The body struggles to remove excess iron, which can support the growth of infectious organisms, including bacteria, viruses, yeast, and other parasites. Excess iron can catalyze the production of oxygen radicals and increase the chance for cancer cells to survive and flourish. |
Earl L. Mindell, RPh, PhD with Virginia Hopkins, MA
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| Anticonvulsants Barbiturates Bismuth salts Carbamazepine Cimetidine Hydantoins iron supplements Phenytoin Sodium bicarbonate
What Are Their Interactions with Food?
Eating food with these drugs decreases their absorption. (Doxycycline is an exception. Take with food.) Take these drugs with a full glass of water. Avoid eating dairy products within two hours of taking them.
Iron, calcium, magnesium, riboflavin, vitamin C, zinc, or any mineral supplements taken at the same time as tetracyclines can reduce their absorption and reduce absorption of these nutrients. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
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 SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS
Although incidence by this means is rare, hemochromatosis can be acquired from massive doses of iron supplements or from blood transfusions. Far more common is the genetic form of the disease. Genetic hemochromatosis (GH) is also known as hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) and can be detected through screening (Ramrakhiani et al. 1998). |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 And remember: Keep iron supplements out of the reach of children. Not many people know this, but a toddler could die from ingesting just a few of these pills. iron supplements are the leading cause of accidental supplement-related poisoning. So be careful with them. In fact, you should store all of your supplements where youngsters can't get them.
While we're on the subject of supplements, be sure that you're getting enough folic acid (also known as folate) and vitamin B12. Deficiencies in either of these nutrients can cause other types of anemia. |
Michael Janson, M.D.
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 Iron is responsible for many poisonings when children find bottles of iron supplements meant for adults. Make sure the bottles have childproof caps (although these are sometimes the kind only kids can open), and be sure to keep the bottles out of the reach of children.
How to take
Iron supplements are available in many forms. The most common, iron sulfate, cause constipation and digestive upset, and is not the best absorbed. Ferrous fumarate, in a timed-release, 50-mg tablet is what I usually recommend. |
The Editors of Prevention Magazine Health Books
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 Those obtaining the most relief from iron supplements were people with low blood levels of ferritin, an iron-protein complex that is the main storage form of iron in the body. "None of these people had actual iron-deficiency anemia, and most even had normal blood levels of iron," Dr. O'Keeffe notes.
Experts suggest that if you have been diagnosed with restless legs syndrome, you should have your doctor check your blood level of ferritin. If it is low or borderline, you may benefit from iron supplements.
"How much iron you need depends on your iron level," Dr. Fry says. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Students at Penn State who were found to be deficient in iron significantly increased their test scores after three months of taking iron supplements. Now that people are cutting back on iron-rich red meat, they need to be especially careful about getting iron in other forms. Good food sources of iron are pork, oysters, clams, chicken, and turkey. iron supplements should only be taken in cases of iron-deficient anemia.
Antioxidants
Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that are normal byproducts of the cells use of oxygen. |
Patrick Holford
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 Very rarely there are deaths due to children's swallowing handfuls of their mother's sugar-coated iron supplements. Compare this with deaths attributed to prescribed drugs. These were the conclusions of a survey of hospitalized patients, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association: "We estimated that in 1994 overall 2,216,000 hospitalized patients had serious adverse drug reactions and 106,000 had fatal adverse drug reactions, making these reactions between the fourth and sixth leading cause of death."3 Similar findings have also been reported in Britain. |
| Although iron supplements are often given in doses above 50 mg, there is little evidence that this is more effective than lower doses in raising hemoglobin levels.
Too much iron may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to a Finnish study of 1,900 men, those with higher iron stores were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack as those with lower iron stores. |
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN
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 Had those soy foods been fermented, the phytates might have had a minimal effect. A Chinese study of 437 children carried out over a period of six months found that the incidence of iron deficiency anemia decreased from 21.7 to 1.25 percent after switching to old-fashioned fermented forms of soy.29
In addition to causing fatigue and other typical problems, iron deficiencies may lead to increased absorption of the heavy metal lead which, in turn, interferes with brain and nervous system function.30 Making matters worse, phytates also latch onto zinc and other essential brain minerals. |
The Life Extension Editorial Staff
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| 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. Supplementation with EPO, iron, and appropriate B vitamins helps raise hemoglobin levels and most patients with kidney disease feel better, have more energy, and live longer (NIDDK 2001a).
L'Carnitine. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 Huge overdoses (as when a child swallows an entire bottle of iron supplements) can be fatal. Keep iron-containing supplements out of a child's reach. Hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, polycythemia, and iron-loading anemias (such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia) are conditions involving excessive storage of iron. Supplementing iron can be quite dangerous for people with these diseases.
Supplemental amounts required to overcome iron deficiency can cause constipation (p. 44). Sometimes switching the form of iron, getting more exercise, or treating the constipation with fiber (p. |
| Non-heme iron is also found in these foods, as well as in dried fruit, molasses, leafy green vegetables, wine, and most iron supplements. Acidic foods (such as tomato sauce) cooked in an iron pan can also be a source of dietary iron.
Vegetarians eat less iron than non-vegetarians, and the iron they eat is somewhat less absorbable. As a result, vegetarians are more likely to have reduced iron stores.2 Vegetarians can increase their iron intake by emphasizing iron-containing foods within their diet (see above) or in some cases by supplementing iron if needed. |
Patricia Hausman & Judith Benn Hurley
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 It provides the so-called meat factor that helps us absorb more of the harder-to-assimilate nonheme iron in food and iron supplements. The RDA handbook cites this factor as one of the three most important influences on iron absorption.
• It supplies vitamin B12. Just a little of this nutrient can help prevent the serious nerve damage that occasionally afflicts those who eat no meat for many years (only meat is proven to contain this important vitamin). |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| A preliminary report found that women sometimes regain their fertility when given iron supplements.18
PABA (p. 319) appears to enhance the effects of cortisone," estrogen, and possibly other hormones by delaying their breakdown in the liver. Some infertile women have increased their ability to become pregnant after taking PABA.20
Are There Any Side Effects or Interactions? Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
Herbs That May Be Helpful
Vitex (p. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 In these cases, iron supplements are not appropriate and can become dangerous if taken in excess.
•Iron...If a nursing child is iron-deficient, the mother should take a chelated form of the supplement so that her milk becomes enriched with the mineral. Typically, breast-fed babies do not develop an iron deficiency unless the mother suffers from the deficiency. A product known as Floradix, which can be found in most health food stores, offers a valuable source of iron. The liquid form of the product is recommended over the dry form.
•Bee Pollen... |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 Here's what many health care practitioners recommend:
ž Calcium (as calcium citrate, gluconate, lactate, malate, or aspartate): up to 1,000 milligrams per day for premenopausal women; up to 2,000 milligrams per day for post-menopausal women, taken in two doses per day with meals (and not at the same time as any iron supplements). Caution: Consult your doctor before taking such supplements if you have kidney conditions, are prone to kidney stones, or have hyperparathyroidism.
ž Vitamin D: 400 to 800 IU. |
the Editors of PREVENTION Magazine Health Books
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 Take iron supplements only as recommended by your doctor," suggests Dr. Stankiewicz. "B12 injections and prescription zinc medications are also available from your doctor." Over-the-counter zinc medications are not recommended, he says.
Wash away mouth infections. If glossitis develops while you're taking antibiotics for another infection, using a salt mouthwash can ease the assault on your taste buds.
"Use one tablespoon salt in an eight-ounce tumbler of warm water to relieve glossitis," Dr. Friedman suggests. |
| Perhaps you've been taking iron supplements. Or you enjoyed a package of chewy black licorice. Maybe you overdid the feasting altogether and then turned to a bottle of Pepto-Bismol for relief. All four items have been known to turn stools black, says Barry Jaffin, M.D., a specialist in gastrointestinal motility disorders and a clinical instructor in the Department of Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
But's there also a strong likelihood that your stools are black because they contain blood. |
Walter Last
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 Deficiency Symptoms: These can include disorders of the reproductive and circulatory systems, stroke, heart disease, leg pains, cramps, poor wound healing, pronounced scar tissue, muscle weakness, chronic fatigue, tender breasts, arthritis, cancer, eye and ear problems, gangrene, infections, hot flushes, malabsorption, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, phlebitis, skin problems, and varicose veins.
Best Sources: Cold-pressed oils (wheatgerm oil), rice polishings, sprouted seeds, nuts, egg yolk, green leaves, and grass juice. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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 It is equally common for me to see patients with various forms of fatigue and anemia who do not respond, for example, to simple iron supplements. In such cases, the choice of herbs for treating poor circulation now depends on herbal differential diagnosis. Weakness, coldness, congestion, restriction, and deficiency are among the major contributing factors, and any or all may be present. The patient or doctor must identify which factor is most prominent, which will help in developing the proper treatment protocol, which usually involves mixing herbs from several groups. |
Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.
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 Men and postmenopausal women should take iron supplements only with approval from their physicians.
11 KSl selenium, and chromium; if you can afford the added costs, these three appear to be better absorbed and used by the body in their natural form than their inorganic or synthetic forms.)
• Chelated minerals (which are chemically bound to an amino acid). Again, there is no convincing evidence that they are any better absorbed or used by the body than other minerals. The same goes for colloidal minerals.
• "Women's" or "men's" formulas. |
Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay.
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| If the weakness and blood loss have progressed to anemia, use iron supplements and herbs from the blood-nourishing group. To stop bleeding quickly, try the Eclectic formula called erigeron-cinnamon compound, available from Herb Pharm. Using these strategies at our clinic, we have been able to slow or stop many persistent cases of acute menorrhagia. Over a period of three to six cycles we have also stopped or reduced the tendency to bleed excessively.
Dysmenorrhea (Menstrual Cramps)
Dysmenorrhea is the medical term for pain and cramping associated with menstruation. |
Ronald L. Hoffman, M.D.
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 Until after menopause, women may need iron supplements, but men don't. Excess iron stored in the body can cause health problems.5
• If you're a premenopausal woman and you are taking an iron supplement; try taking it with a vitamin C supplement or a food source, which will help the absorption.
• If you're not used to taking supplements, there may be some mild side effects. Iron and calcium carbonate, for instance, can cause constipation until your body adjusts to the higher levels. Magnesium and vitamin C, on the other hand, can cause diarrhea or GI bloating. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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| Many medications have a constipating effect, including codeine, tranquilizers, sedatives, iron supplements, some ulcer drugs, and some drugs used to ease spasms of the intestines, bladder, and bronchi (the airways in the lungs). General anesthesia can slow bowel movements. Constipation can also accompany abdominal conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and bowel obstruction.
The number and types of laxatives on the market are a testament to just how common the problem of constipation is. Most of these laxatives have few side effects and many use the same ingredients as herbal remedies. |
Patricia Hausman & Judith Benn Hurley
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| You may also find that iron supplements tend to be constipating. Again, the higher the dose, the more likely the problem. Our recommendation is to try some bran or other fiber-rich foods. Of course, you may be concerned that the extra fiber will interfere with iron absorption. Just ask your doctor to take a simple blood test to determine if your iron status is getting better or worse or staying the same when you add fiber to the regimen. More likely than not, the therapeutic dose of an iron supplement will more than make up for any iron lost to the extra fiber. |
Grace Ross Lewis
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 Iron supplements are the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths for children under six, who often mistake the pills for candy. Chronic exposure to excess levels of iron can result in pathological deposits of iron in the body tissues, the symptoms of which are fibrosis of the pancreas, diabetes mellitus, and liver cirrhosis.
Synonyms: CAS: 7439-89-6 ? ANCOR EN 80/150 ? ARMCO IRON ? CARBONYL IRON ? IRON, CARBONYL ? IRON, ELECTROLYTIC ? IRON, ELEMENTAL ? |
Isadore Rosenfeld, M.D.
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 Remember all the fanfare in the media about "tired blood" and how iron supplements would cure it? Well, a slight deficiency may actually be good for you! Iron in supplements, or in foods such as red meat, from which it is readily absorbed by the gut, may be associated with a higher risk of heart disease (see page 33).
My mother used to feed me lots of garlic and onions, which, incidentally, belong to the same plant family. She was sure that garlic was the staff of life and would protect me against cancer, heart disease, colds, and, I suspect, girls. |
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