While iron is an essential element, taking too much iron can be fatal. Many women take iron supplements during pregnancy and during their reproductive years to ward off anemia, a low red blood cell count. Young children and people with certain diseases such as kidney failure may also need iron supplements. Do not take iron supplements without discussing their use with your physician; for some people, taking extra iron can have harmful effects. Adult men and postmenopausal women rarely require iron supplements, the Office of Dietary Supplements reports.
Daily Requirements
The recommendations for iron supplementation vary with age, sex and health conditions. Pregnant women, who have increased circulating blood volume, need the most, 27 mg per day. Pre-menopausal women, who lose blood every month in their menstrual period, need the next largest amount, 18 mg per day, while girls age 14 to 18 need 15 mg. Boys and girls aged 9 to 13 as well as men over age 19 and postmenopausal women all need just 8 mg per day. Teen boys aged 14 to 18 and infants aged 7 to 12 months need 11 mg. Because infants under 6 months still have iron stores acquired during gestation, they need only 0.27 mg per day. From age 1 to 3, children need 7 mg of iron per day; from age 4 to 8, they need 10 mg, according to the ODS.
Overdoses
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences sets an upper safe limit for vitamin and mineral intakes. While your doctor may recommend a higher dose if you have certain medical conditions, these levels are considered the maximum safe dose. Do not take this much iron unless your doctor prescribes it. For children aged 7 months to 13, the upper safety limit is 40 mg; for anyone over age 14, the upper safety limit is 45 mg per day, according to the ODS.
Hematochromatosis
People with hemochromatosis have abnormally high levels of iron. For people with this disorder, any iron supplementation at all is too much. People with hemochromatosis absorb more iron from foods and supplements than other people. Around 0.5 percent -- or five out of 1,000 -- of Caucasians in the United States have hemochromatosis, an inherited disorder. Men are usually diagnosed with the disorder at a younger age because women lose iron in menses, keeping their iron levels low. Hemochromatosis causes joint pain, fatigue, lack of energy, decreased sex drive and bronze-colored skin. Over time, it also causes liver damage and heart problems.
Dangers
Iron overdose requires immediate medical treatment. Symptoms may not appear for up to 60 minutes after an overdose. Do not wait for symptoms to appear before seeking treatment. Early signs of iron overdose include nausea, vomiting, which may include blood, abdominal cramping or pain and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Later signs include cyanosis, a bluish tinge to the skin from lack of oxygen, convulsion, rapid breathing, cold, clammy skin, weakness or rapid heartbeat. Seek treatment immediately if you suspect iron poisoning. Iron poisoning is the single largest cause of poisoning death in children under 6 years in the United States, the Linus Pauling Institute warns. Symptoms can disappear and then reappear up to 48 hours after ingestion; organ failure may then occur.
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