Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 If you are male or a postmenopausal woman and have risk factors for heart disease (or you know you have heart disease), you should avoid iron supplements unless you test out to be deficient; confer with your doctor on this, too.
Caution: Keep all iron supplements away from children. An adult iron supplement can kill a child under the age of five.
Dose: If you use H2 blockers or antacids regularly, it's wise to supplement with 15 mg per dayan amount that can be found in most multi-vitamin/mineral supplements.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is reduced in the body by H2 blockers. |
| If you are male or a postmenopausal woman and have risk factors for heart disease (or you know you have heart disease), you should avoid iron supplements unless you test out to be deficient; confer with your doctor on this, too.
Caution: Keep all iron supplements away from children. An adult iron supplement can kill a child under the age of five.
Dose: If you use H2 blockers or antacids regularly, it's wise to supplement with 15 mg per dayan amount that can be found in most multi-vitamin/mineral supplements.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is reduced in the body by H2 blockers. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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 Liquid iron supplements can even stain teeth. iron supplements should be taken with food to prevent discomfort.
Summary for Iron
Main functions: transportation of oxygen and energy metabolism.
RDA: adults, 7 to 18 mg; pregnant women, 27 mg. Toxicity: only affects those with a genetic disorder. Digestive discomfort may occur if taken on an empty stomach.
Tolerable upper intake level is set at 45 mg, 40 mg for ages under 14. Deficiency can cause fatigue and anemia. Deficiency is common. |
Dr. Sharon Moalem
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 Sure enough, he treated some of the nomads for anemia by giving them iron supplements, and suddenly the infections gained the upper hand. The rate of infection in nomads receiving the extra iron skyrocketed. The Somali nomads weren't withstanding these infections despite their anemia: they were withstanding these infections because of their anemia. It was iron locking in high gear.
Thirty-five years ago, doctors in New Zealand routinely injected Maori babies with iron supplements. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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| Because extra iron supplementation can interfere with the absorption of zinc from foods, zinc supplements may be needed along with iron supplements. Zinc is especially needed during pregnancy and for the first six months of breastfeeding. Four out of five pregnant women worldwide have inadequate zinc levels. Adequate zinc is associated with healthier babies and easier deliveries.
Iodine deficiency can cause brain damage, especially when it occurs in the fetuses of pregnant women after the first trimester and in children of up to three years of age. |
Dr. Sharon Moalem
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| Thirty-five years ago, doctors in New Zealand routinely injected Maori babies with iron supplements.They assumed that the Maori (the indigenous people of New Zealand) had a poor diet, lacking iron, and that their babies would be anemic as a result.
The Maori babies injected with iron were seven times as likely to suffer from potentially deadly infections, including septicemias (blood poisoning) and meningitis. Like all of us, babies have isolated strains of potentially harmful bacteria in their systems, but those strains are normally kept under control by their bodies. |
Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
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| Antacids containing
Calcium channel blockers aluminum
Decongestants
Anticonvulsants
Diuretics
Antidepressants
iron supplements (synthetic)
Anti-diarrheal agents
Muscle relaxers
Antihistamines
Narcotics (pain relievers)
Anti-inflammatory agents
Parkinson's Disease drugs
Antipsychotics
Sedatives
Antispasmodics
Tranquilizers
Beta blockers
219 n x complaint from people taking certain medications. |
Lester A. Mitscher and Victoria Toews
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 To be prudent, however, some physicians recommend that patients taking iron supplements of the non-hemic ferrous salt form should avoid drinking tea with their supplements.18
Tea, and green tea in particular, is also an impressive source of fluoridethe mineral well known for fighting cavities. Many communities add fluoride to their water supplies in order to take advantage of its dental benefits. These supplies of fluoridated water generally provide 0.7 to 1.2 parts per million of fluoride. In contrast, many teas provide 1.32 to 4.18 parts per million of fluoride. |
| Some health-care providers warn people against drinking tea if they are taking iron supplements (in the non-hemic ferrous salt form), since early research suggested that the tea could interfere with the absorption of iron, and possibly other minerals. But this concern appears to be unfounded. In a study of four elderly patients with iron-deficiency anemia and eleven healthy older adults, supplements of iron increased blood levels of iron equally well in both anemic and non-anemic people, whether they drank green tea or did not. |
Marshall Editions
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 Do not take iron supplements if you do not have iron deficiency anemia. Vitamin B12 helps with all types of anemia, but if your doctor diagnoses you with B12 deficiency anemia then you should take 1,000 meg of B12 a day, which is higher than the recommended daily amount, or have B12 injections. For folic acid deficiency anemia, take 800-1,200 meg a day, which is higher than the recommended daily amount. Also take 2,000 mgof spirulina a day, which has been shown to stimulate the production of red blood cells from bone marrow. |
| Many medications can also cause constipation, including antihistamines, blood pressure medications, water pills, calcium, iron supplements, and narcotics. Review the medications you are taking.
Diet and exercise: General lifestyle measures to relieve constipation include exercising daily (for example, about 20 minutes of rapid walking a day), drinking at least 1.5 liters of water a day, and including plenty of fiber in your diet (ideally about 30 g a day). Take 2 tbsp of psyllium husks a day and eat at least 5 portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
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 Precautions: Overdose in infants can be serious or even fatal, so be sure that your iron supplements are out of the reach of children. Ferrous sulfate, commonly used in conventional supplements, can cause the production of free radicals and should not be used. Elevated levels of iron in the blood are associated with an increased risk for heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, as well as low immunity.52 Women who are menopausal and those who experience a heavy menstrual flow should consult their physicians about supplementing with iron. |
Bill Sardi
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 This suggests that iron supplements combined with certain forms of fiber intake may actually increase the absorption of iron which is a "rusting agenf and cancer risk factor when it is unbound. [Nutrition & Cancer 48: 1-5, 2004]
Fiber from bran contains a potent iron chelator (attaching agent) called phytate (IP6) which would negatively affect the increased acidity and iron absorption by binding the iron so it cannot create free radicals that damage tissues and create gene mutations. |
| Zinc, 15-25 mg
Selenium (SelenoExcel) 200 meg
Avoidance of copper and iron supplements by full-grown males and post-menopausal females; obtain iron and copper from the diet. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 In cases of fibroids where heavy bleeding exists, progestogens or estrogen is used to manage the bleeding, and any anemia is treated with iron supplements. Treatment of fibroids with progestational agents (norethindrone, megestrol, medroxyprogesterone acetate) has been used, but there is no consensus regarding the routine use of these drugs to shrink fibroids. The progestational agents produce a hypoestrogenic effect by inhibiting gonadotropin secretion and suppressing ovarian function. They may also have a direct antiestrogen effect. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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| The forms of iron supplements that are least well absorbed include ferrous fiimarate, ferrous succinate, and ferric saccharate.
To summarize, iron is needed to transport and store oxygen in the body. Iron is also essential in energy production in the cell. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world.
Quiz
Refer to the text in this chapter if necessary. A good score is at least 8 correct answers out of these 10 questions. The answers are listed in the back of this book.
1. Iron is needed for:
(a) Transport of oxygen in blood.
(b) Storage of oxygen in muscles. |
| However, vitamin C does not help with the absorption of iron from iron supplements.
THREE OTHER ENHANCERS OF IRON ABSORPTION
There are three other enhancers of iron absorption. The mechanisms of action and the amount of the increases in absorption of these enhancers are not known at present. First, the presence of heme iron acts as an enhancer of non-heme iron absorption. Second, fermented foods such as sauerkraut and fermented soy sauce can enhance the absorption of iron from a meal. Third, several food acids, such as citric acid, increase iron absorption. |
| Cooking acidic food in cast iron pans can add iron to the diet. iron supplements and iron used for food fortification are in the non-heme form. In addition, part of the iron in meat, poultry, and fish is non-heme iron.
Although it occurs in smaller amounts in the diet, heme iron is normally more easily absorbed than non-heme iron. While the absorption of non-heme iron is influenced by the other components of a meal, heme iron is much less influenced by accompanying enhancers or inhibitors. More iron is absorbed if iron stores in the body are low. |
| Iron stores of this size are not common, so it is recommended by the World Health Organization that pregnant women take iron supplements along with folic acid supplements. It is ideal if a woman rebuilds her iron stores back up to about 500 mg before a subsequent pregnancy.
Populations with Increased Risk of Iron Deficiency
Infants under one year of age drinking cow's milk Children aged six months to four years Adolescent girls
Pregnant women in the last trimester
Those with blood loss including blood donors
Athletes
Loss of large amounts of blood can result in iron deficiency anemia. |
Andreas Moritz
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 If you have been diagnosed with anemia, your doctor may have told you that you suffer from iron deficiency and need to take iron supplements. The truth is, however, that the liver will limit the uptake of iron from food to a level below normal only if there is an underlying condition that requires blood iron to be low. For example, if the liver bile ducts are blocked and excessive iron cannot escape from the liver, the blood iron levels could reach toxic concentrations and cause hemochromatosis, a condition that can destroy the pancreas and liver. |
Dr. Sharon Moalem
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| So even if you stuffed yourself with iron supplements you wouldn't load up with excess iron. Once your body is satisfied with the amount of iron it has, the excess will pass through you instead of being absorbed. But in a person who has hemochromatosis, the body always thinks that it doesn't have enough iron and continues to absorb iron unabated. This iron loading has deadly consequences over time. The excess iron is deposited throughout the body, ultimately damaging the joints, the major organs, and overall body chemistry. |
Bill Sardi
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| Avoidance of tobacco, iron supplements, foods with refined sugar, and excessive alcohol (with the exception of moderate amounts of red wine), should not require any discussion.
Prostatitis and urinary frequency are common. The use of saw palmetto berry extract (160 mg twice a day, 75-85% extract), pollen (cemitin), pygeum, and nettles may be helpful.
Zinc (gluconate, up to 30 mg), boron (3-12 mg), and soy, may be helpful additions to a dietary supplement regimen. |
Mike Adams
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 Give your children and teenagers iron supplements, especially if they eat large quantities of junk food. Additionally, take iron supplements whenever you experience heavy menstruation and when you are pregnant or lactating. Don't forget to take vitamin B12 supplements, either. Furthermore, as always, fill up your plates with healthy foods high in iron, B12 and other nutrients, rather than nutritionally poor, processed foods.
Healing foods for Anemia
***** carrots ****lV ****lV ****lV
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Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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 Clinical Management: If products containing iron, such as vitamins or iron supplements, are used in a patient receiving levodopa, monitor for an increase in Parkinson's disease symptoms. If symptoms worsen, consider adjusting the levodopa dose or avoiding iron-containing products, if possible.
Levothyroxine: Concurrent use may result in worsened hypothyroidism. Clinical Management: Separate the administration of iron salts and levothyroxine as much as possible. Monitor thyroid function tests.
Methyldopa: Concurrent use may result in decreased methyl-dopa effectiveness. |
| Clinical Management: The administration of cefdinir and iron supplements or vitamins containing iron should be separated by at least 2 hours.
Enoxacin: Concurrent use may result in decreased enoxacin effectiveness. Clinical Management: Avoid concurrent use. However, if used concurrently, the dose of the iron salt should be given at least 6 hours before or 4 hours after the enoxacin dose.
Etidronate: Concurrent use may result in decreased etidronate absorption. |
| The most common side effects of iron supplements are gastrointestinal problems, including nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal discomfort, black stools, diarrhea, constipation, and anorexia. Enteric-coated iron preparations may prevent some of the gastrointestinal complaints associated with iron therapy. Temporary staining of teeth may occur from iron-containing liquids. Adverse effects from intramuscular iron injections include cutaneous pigmentation with iron deposits, sarcoma, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, backache, headache, myalgia, malaise, and dizziness. |
| The groups were blinded to treatment with iron supplements or placebo. Significant improvements in serum ferritin following treatment were associated with a 5- to 7-fold improvement in cognitive performance, while faster completion of cognitive tasks was associated with significant improvements in hemoglobin levels (Murray-Kolb and Beard 2007).
Fatigue
Iron supplementation may reduce unexplained fatigue in nonanemic women. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 144 nonanemic women (aged 18 to 55 years, hemoglobin above 11. |
Ann M. Coulston and Carol J. Boushey
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 Many athletes self-prescribe iron supplements; indeed, mass supplementation of athletes with iron has been fashionable at various times. However, these practices do not provide the athlete with the opportunity for adequate assessment of iron losses and expert dietary counseling from a sports dietitian. Dietary guidelines for increasing iron intake should be integrated with the athlete's other nutritional goals such as a need for high carbohydrate intake or reduced energy intake.
C. Calcium
Weight-bearing exercise is considered to be one of the best protectors of bone health. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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| In another study, children receiving iron supplements showed improved autonomic cardiovascular control during sleep (eg, increased heart rate variability and reduced ratio of low-frequency/high-frequency powers) (Orii et al 2002). indications and usage
Approved by the FDA:
¦ Iron-deficiency anemia (prophylaxis and treatment)
Unproven Uses: Limited research suggests that supplemental iron could be helpful for reducing the frequency of breath-holding spells in children. It may also enhance cognition in children and adolescents who have a documented iron deficiency. |
| Those who take iron supplements should use childproof bottles and store them away from children.
Potential Supplement Interactions
Beta-carotene, l-cysteine, n-acetyl-l-cysteine: Using iron with these supplements may result in enhanced absorption of iron
Inositol hexphosphate, vanadium: Using iron with these supplements may result in decreased absorption of iron:
Copper: Using iron with copper may result in decreased copper status. |
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