Iron deficiency is considered the primary nutrient disorder around the globe. About 80 percent of the world's population have iron deficiency and 30 percent have iron deficient anemia, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Women before menopause and children are at greater risk. Iron supplements, taken either orally or through injection, is an effective measure to correct iron deficiency. However, iron supplements can be hard to tolerate for some people because of its side effects and health concerns.
Side Effects of Iron Supplements
Iron supplements are best absorbed when taken half an hour before a meal, on an empty stomach. This practice often cause gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation and stomach upset. If you experience these side effects, try taking the supplement with food and in divided doses. You may also want to start with half of the recommended doses and gradually work your way up to full strength, recommends the Office of Dietary Supplements. Avoid taking iron supplements with milk, coffee, tea, cereal, antacids or calcium supplements.
Iron Overload
Over-supplementation with iron can lead to iron load, a condition where excess iron gets deposited into soft tissues, such as the heart and the liver, causing organ damage. Women after menopause and adult men are at greater risk of iron overload because they have lower needs for iron. If you're in these groups, you should not take iron supplements unless you are iron-deficient and your doctor has told you to take a supplement. Iron supplements are especially dangerous for people with hemochromatosis, a genetic disease with accelerated iron absorption and increased risk of iron overload. The Office of Dietary Supplements estimates that 1 in 250 people of northern European descent suffers from hemochromatosis.
Iron Poisoning
Iron poisoning is the leading poisoning death among children. Doses as low as 200 mg can lead to death. Iron poisoning can cause stomach and intestinal upset, dangerously low blood pressure, liver failure and eventually death. Keep iron supplements away from children. Call a poison control center or your health care provider immediately if you suspect someone has taken more than the recommended amount of iron. The Institute of Medicine has set the upper tolerable level of iron to be 40 mg per day for children and 45 mg per day for adults.
Iron Supplement and Heart Disease
Iron can stimulate the activity of free radicals. The Office of Dietary Supplements reviewed that high level of ferritin, a marker for iron store, is associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease for men, and those who donate more than one unit of whole blood a year have a lower risk of cardiac events than the casual donors who donate one unit in three years. Blood donation is associated with iron loss. According to the National Institutes of Health, high intake of iron is associated with higher risk of heart diseases, especially for Type 2 diabetes patients. Do not take more than the recommended amount of iron without medical supervision. The recommended iron intake is 8 mg per day for adult men and 18 mg for adult women.
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