Iron supplements are appropriate when you don't get enough iron in your diet to maintain normal levels, and they're particularly important if you have iron deficiency anemia, says the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. While iron supplements can be necessary for good health, the dangers of taking iron supplements when you don't need them can lead to a serious and sometimes fatal medical condition called iron overload.
Benefits of Iron
Iron is essential to all lifeforms--humans, plants, animals and bacteria, says the Iron Disorders Institute. You need iron in your diet to product hemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout your body and gets rid of carbon dioxide. Iron is also a crucial to build and maintain healthy muscles that allow you to walk, run and move. Iron is more crucial at certain stages of life than others, especially during childhood. The Iron Disorders Institutes indicates that children with low iron may lack the physical development and intellectual capacity as the rest of their peers. However, too much iron can also be fatal; only 250mg is toxic to a child.
Iron Overload
Iron overload is a serious, chronic medical condition in which excess iron collects in the vital organs, such as the heart and liver. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that iron overload is usually caused by a genetic condition that makes your body absorb more iron than it needs. However, it can also be caused by numerous blood transfusions, hepatitis and consuming too much iron. Iron overload can ultimately result in a disease called hemochromatosis, in which the organs become damaged. Other symptoms include fatigue and joint and abdominal pain.
Avoid Iron Supplements
The ODS indicates that adult males and postmenopausal women should avoid taking iron supplements, as these populations are more at risk for hemochromatosis. Unfortunately, by the time this condition is diagnosed, organ damage has already occurred. If you fall within these two categories, don't take iron supplements unless your doctor tells you to do so. Additionally, if you have a medical condition that necessitates frequent blood transfusions, avoid taking iron supplements.
Who Needs Extra Iron
According to the ODS, you may need iron supplements if you fall within three categories: you tend to lose more iron; you need more iron; or your body doesn't absorb iron well. For example, premature babies, babies with low birth weights, older infants and toddlers may need iron supplementation. Teenage females, women of childbearing age, pregnant women and people who eat a vegetarian diet may also need more iron. Iron supplements may also be indicated for medical conditions that cause iron deficiency anemia.
Ask Your Doctor
According to the ODS, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that you should get your iron from food--not iron supplements. Good sources of iron include beef, turkey, beans, lentils and iron-fortified cereals. If you eat a well-balanced diet, you likely have no need for iron supplements. Talk to your physician before taking any type of dietary supplement to address your health concerns.
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