An iron supplement is nutritious, that plays a vital role in the human body, including keeping healthy and full of energy. Low iron levels are common and can cause unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue, poor concentration, and frequent bouts of illness. However, iron deficiency is not always easy to detect, especially in its early stages. Iron supplements are a great way to reverse a deficiency, especially if dietary changes alone are unsuccessful. Iron is one of the greatest and super amazing minerals your body needs to get function properly. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin helps your blood carry oxygen from your lungs to all the tissues and organs of your body.
When Iron Supplements May Be Helpful:
They can produce results faster than dietary interventions and are often considered the treatment method of choice.
These supplements may be especially helpful in people who are prone to low iron levels, especially if they can’t maintain good iron status through diet alone:
- Infants and young children
- People suffering from heavy menstruation
- Frequent blood donors
- People with cancer
- People with gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
- Those who have undergone stomach surgery
- People with heart failure
- Those taking iron-lowering medicines, such as medicines used to reduce stomach acid
- People regularly participate in heavy exercise
- Those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet
- People with blood disorders such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease
- People with alcoholism
It’s important to note that taking iron supplements when they’re unnecessary could harm your health, in part because they usually contain high doses of iron, which can cause digestive problems and reduce the absorption of other nutrients in your gut (1Trusted Source).
Excessive use of these supplements can also cause cell damage and in severe cases lead to organ failure, coma, or death. Negative side effects can happen to anyone but are especially fatal in children
Therefore, always talk to your healthcare provider about getting your or your child’s iron status tested before taking iron supplements, and always follow your healthcare provider’s dosage recommendations.
What Is Oral Iron Supplementation?
In addition to eating iron-rich foods, you may need to take an oral iron supplement. The benefit of an oral iron supplement is that it treats your symptoms by increasing the iron and hemoglobin levels in your body. The iron in your body is called “elemental iron.” Oral iron supplements contain varying amounts of elemental iron. When choosing a supplement, be sure to check the label to see how much elemental iron it contains. More elemental iron means your body absorbs more iron.
How Should I Take Iron Supplements?
If your health care provider has recommended an iron supplement, use it only as directed. Take the medicine at least one hour before or two hours after a meal. If you are using the tablet form, swallow the tablet whole. If using the liquid form, measure the medicine carefully. Use a dosing syringe, not a kitchen spoon. It is possible that you will not receive the exact dose of the medicine. Your healthcare provider may recommend a special diet while you are taking ferrous sulfate. Follow their instructions exactly. Store the supplement at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.
Best Tests to Diagnose Iron Status:
However, they are not considered sensitive or specific and tend to identify only IDA, not the early stages of iron depletion. Identifying the earlier stages of exhaustion is beneficial because it allows you to address the problem immediately, whether with dietary modifications or supplements, rather than letting it progress to IDA before you take action. Serum ferritin is currently considered the most cost-effective and efficient test for diagnosing iron deficiency, especially in its early stages. However, few doctors routinely test ferritin levels, so you may need to ask for this test in addition to the hemoglobin and hematocrit tests when you visit the doctor’s office.
What Are The Best Iron Supplements?
Your Linear Health provider can help you decide what iron supplement is best for you. The best iron supplements for linear health are Multi-45 and Febrical Tablets. They will also tell you how much iron you need to take in each day. The best way to take an iron supplement is with two or more doses each day. This is how your body absorbs the most iron. However, you should take extended-release iron supplements once a day.
Conclusion:
Iron supplements can help reverse iron deficiency when dietary changes alone are unsuccessful. Some people, including pregnant women, infants, young children, heavy exercisers, and people with certain medical conditions, are more prone to low iron levels and should have their iron levels tested regularly. If you are considering having your iron levels tested, be sure to request a hemoglobin and hematocrit test along with the ferritin test. This combination is most effective in identifying iron deficiency, even in its early stages