Iron is a mineral that produces red blood cells and helps carry oxygen around the body.

When your iron levels are low, it can lead to iron deficiency anemia, which decreases the flow of oxygen to your organs and tissues.

Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common nutritional disorders in the world, affecting as many as25 percentof people globally.

Taking daily iron supplements can be an important part of managing iron deficiency anemia, although your doctor may also recommend boosting your iron intake by eating more iron-rich foods.

In this article, we’ll review the different types of iron supplements available and their dosage recommendations. We’ll also look at the relationship between anemia and pregnancy, and explore some natural solutions that may help boost your iron levels.

Most people get all the iron they need from food. But when you have iron deficiency anemia, your levels are too low to meet your nutritional needs. You can try to get back up to normal iron levels through diet alone, but for most people with very low iron reserves, getting iron from food isn’t enough.

The benefit of iron supplements is that you can get the iron your body needs with an easy-to-take, high-dose tablet or liquid. Iron supplements have more iron than youfindin a multivitamin, and your doctor can monitor the dose you take.

If your body has difficulty absorbing iron from food, a supplement can help you get the dose you need of this essential nutrient.

Oral Supplements

Oral iron supplements are the most common treatments for anemia. You can take them as a pill, a liquid, or as a salt.

You can find a variety of different types, including :

  • ferrous sulfate
  • ferrous gluconate
  • ferric citrate
  • ferric sulfate

Intravenous supplements

某些人可能需要静脉注射铁. You may need this method if:

  • your body can’t tolerate oral supplements
  • you experience chronic blood loss
  • your gastrointestinal (GI) tract has trouble absorbing iron

There are several different types available, including:

  • iron dextran
  • iron sucrose
  • ferric gluconate

High doses of oral iron supplements may lead to GI symptoms such as:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • dark stools

Intravenous iron can cause a hypersensitivity reaction (HSR). People may experience a mild, moderate, or severe HSR:

  • Mild HSR:itching, flushing, hives, heat sensation, slight chest tightness, hypertension, back pain, joint pain
  • Moderate HSR:cough, flushing, chest tightness, nausea, hives, shortness of breath, hypotension, rapid heart rate
  • Severe HSR:rapid symptom onset, eye swelling, wheezing, bluish skin, loss of consciousness, cardiac or respiratory arrest

If you experience an HSR during an iron infusion, your doctor may stop the treatment.

The dosage for iron supplements varies from person to person. Talk with your doctor about how much you need to take.

Your doctor may recommend a daily dosing regimen. However, some research suggests taking iron once every other day may also be effective and has better absorption. Talk with your doctor about which dosing strategy is best for you.

Certain foods like dairy, eggs, spinach, whole grains, and caffeine can block iron absorption. Try to avoid having these foods at least 1 hour before and after you take your supplements. You should also take antacids and calcium supplements at least 1 hour apart from your iron.

If you have iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend supplements at a much higher dose than the recommended daily allowance (RDA).

You can use the guidelines put by the National Institutes of Health that show the RDA for most people. However, if your iron stores are low, eating just this amount may not be enough.

Children

0–6 months 0.27 mg
7–12 months 11 mg
1–3 years 7 mg
4–8 years 10 mg
9–13 years 8 mg

Women

14–18 years 15 mg
19–50 years 18 mg
50+ years 8 mg

Males

14–18 years 11 mg
19–50 years 8 mg
50+ years 8 mg

During Pregnancy

14–18 years 27 mg
19–50 years 27 mg

During Lactation

14–18 years 10 mg
19–50 years 9 mg

If you’re a vegetarian, the RDA is 1.8 times these amounts. That’s because plant-based sources of iron are harder for your body to absorb than meat sources.

If you’re living with mild iron deficiency anemia, it may be possible to treat your symptoms naturally through a healthy, balanced diet that includes iron-rich foods.

There are two main types of iron in your diet:

  • Heme ironis found in red meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Non-heme ironis found in nuts, beans, vegetables, and whole grains.

血红素铁比没有更容易被人体吸收n-heme, although both types can be part of a balanced diet. Some foods high in iron, such as spinach, also have components that make it hard for the body to absorb.

Vitamin C can help to increase non-heme iron absorption. It’s a good idea to include items high in vitamin C in a plant-based meal.

Here are some iron-rich foods you can include in your diet:

Food Iron per serving
fortified breakfast cereals 18 mg/serving
cooked eastern oysters 8 mg/3 oz
canned white beans 8 mg/1 cup
dark chocolate 7 mg/3 oz
pan-fried beef liver 5 mg/3 oz
boiled and drained lentils 3 mg/1/2 cup
boiled and drained spinach 3 mg/1/2 cup
firm tofu 3 mg/1/2 cup

During pregnancy, a person’s body needs much more iron to help supply oxygen to the baby. This extra demand increases the risk of developing iron deficiency anemia.

If left untreated, iron deficiency anemia cancausepregnancy complications like premature birth, low baby weight, and postpartum hemorrhage.

Some other factors that increase the risk of developing iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy include:

  • being pregnant with multiple babies
  • having two closely spaced pregnancies
  • having frequent episodes of morning sickness

It can sometimes be hard for pregnant people to tell if they have iron deficiency anemia. Many of its common symptoms are similar to those of pregnancy. Theyinclude:

  • weakness
  • fatigue
  • shortness of breath
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • pale skin
  • chest pain

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that pregnant women start taking a low dose oral iron supplement ( around 30 mg per day ) and get screened for iron deficiency anemia during their first prenatal visit.

They also encourage women with lab-confirmed anemia to increase their dosage to 60 to 120 mg per day. Pregnant people should talk with their doctor to determine their specific recommended dosage.

Most people will start to feel the benefit of an iron supplement within a few days.

According to the U.K.’sNational Health Service, it takes about 1 week to feel better after starting a ferrous fumarate supplement.

然而,它需要更长的时间来建立你的——n reserves. That’s why many doctors recommend keeping up your iron supplementation for as long as3 to 6 monthsif you have iron deficiency anemia.

Iron is an essential mineral for maintaining good health. Iron supplements are an excellent way to prevent complications of iron deficiency anemia.

If you think you may have iron deficiency anemia, talk with your doctor about whether iron supplements are right for you.