Iron is an essential mineral for immune function and healthy red blood cells. Iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel weak and tired. Even though iron is found in many common foods, iron deficiency is the most common mineral deficiency in the world. If your body stores of iron are depleted, your doctor may recommend an iron supplement to get you healthy again.
Background on Iron
You may need an iron supplement to prevent iron-deficiency anemia if you do not get enough from your diet. Iron is in a variety of foods, including poultry, red meat, fish, beans, fortified cereals and spinach, but you may be at risk for iron deficiency if you are a woman of child-bearing age, a child or adolescent or an endurance athlete. Your doctor can order blood tests to help determine whether you need an iron supplement.
Ferrous versus Ferric
Iron that you get from supplements is typically in the form of ferric iron or the more easily absorbed ferrous iron, such as in ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumurate. The percent of elemental iron in these supplements ranges from about 12 to 33 percent, and you would need to take about 90 mg of ferrous sulfate to get the 18 mg of iron that would supply 100 percent of the daily value.
Form and Dose
Your doctor can recommend the best dose of iron supplement for you. NIH.gov states that a typical course of treatment for anemia might include taking about 300 mg ferrous sulfate, which provides 60 mg of elemental iron, daily for 2 to 3 months. In most cases, your doctor will prescribe an oral iron supplement either in tablet or liquid form, but the best iron supplement for you may be an intravenous injection, if you have trouble absorbing iron from your digestive tract.
Safety
Side effects from iron supplements may include diarrhea, constipation and nausea, but you can reduce these symptoms if you take your supplement with food and divide your daily dose into multiple smaller doses. Since the Food and Drug Administration does not inspect dietary supplements, MayoClinic.com suggests sticking to dietary supplements that meet purity standards from the U.S. Pharmacopeia. Take a supplement only if your doctor recommends it, and follow the instructions carefully.
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