Even though iron is in common foods such as meat, poultry, green vegetables and fortified cereals, you may have a deficiency and need extra iron from supplements. If you need them and use them properly, iron supplements can improve your health, but they can be dangerous if you misuse them. Only take iron or any dietary supplements under your doctor's supervision.
Background
According to the National Institutes of Health, the top nutrient deficiency in the world is iron deficiency, and symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness and confusion. In the U.S., women, children, endurance athletes, adolescents and vegetarians may be at higher risk, and your doctor might recommend an iron supplement to improve iron stores in your body. Common forms of iron in supplements include ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate, and the recommended daily value is 18mg.
Who Should Not Take Them
You should not take iron supplements or any other dietary supplement without your doctor's recommendation or approval. Healthy men and postmenopausal women are less likely to be deficient in iron, and it is unsafe to take iron supplements when you do not need them because your body is not efficient at eliminating extra iron. The National Institutes of Health states that iron overload from unnecessary supplements can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and heart failure.
Potential Dangers
When you take iron supplements to address a deficiency, the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center says, you might experience common side effects such as nausea or diarrhea, and taking your supplement with food can reduce the severity. Far more serious is the fact that accidental iron overdose is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in young children, and a fatal dose can be as low as 20mg per kilogram of body weight. This would be about 320mg in a 35-lb. child, or the amount in about five 60mg supplements.
Protecting Yourself
Iron supplements can be safe if you use them only when you need them, and if you take appropriate precautions to avoid overdose. For the safest supplements, the Mayo Clinic recommends getting brands whose labels state that they meet quality standards from the U.S. Pharmacopeia. Also, check the expiration date of your supplements when you purchase and use them. Only take supplements as your doctor recommends them, and follow your doctor's recommendations for the amount you should take.
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