Iron tablets are taken either to treat iron deficiency or to prevent it. They are usually taken as a preventative measure by vegetarians, because of the low bioavailability of iron from plant-sources, or by elderly patients with poor diets. They may also be prescribed for women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Iron tablets usually contain ferrous sulfate, and many preparations also contain vitamin C for enhanced absorption.
Anemia Treatment
One of the main reasons to supplement your diet with iron tablets is to treat iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia usually goes undetected at first, and, as it progresses, signs and symptoms of general weakness, fatigue, poor concentration, pallor and irritability begin to manifest. These symptoms result because of reduced levels of hemoglobin in red blood cells; hemoglobin is vital in the transport of oxygen to body cells. Severe anemia can cause heart palpitations, angina and cardiac enlargement. Mild to moderate iron-deficiency anemia is treated by oral iron tablets, which may successfully reverse the condition.
Pregnancy Health
Many women become anemic during pregnancy due to an increased demand for iron. This is because, apart from the fact that the mother needs to increase her production of red blood cells, the fetus and placenta also take iron from the mother's blood circulation. The symptoms are the same for iron-deficiency anemia in non-pregnant patients, and treatment involves taking iron tablets together with other vitamins, including folic acid.
Treatment for Other Conditions
Other conditions that may be caused by a lack of iron in the diet and are treated with iron tablets include hair loss, pica and Plummer-Vinson syndrome. Pica is a condition characterized by an appetite for substances that are not usually eaten -- such as metal, clay, soil, ash or paper. Pica is seen in people of all ages, but especially in small children and pregnant women. According to E. A. Rose and colleagues at the Wayne State University in Detroit, pica is commonly caused by a mineral deficiency -- typically iron.
The symptoms of Plummer-Vinson syndrome include difficulty swallowing, inflammation of the tongue and iron-deficiency anemia. According to R. Ganesh and colleagues at the Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital in India, the causes of Plummer-Vinson syndrome are not fully known, but treatment with iron supplements usually provides symptomatic relief.
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