Iron is an essential mineral that is part of your every cell, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains. Iron is part of the hemoglobin in your blood that is responsible for supplying oxygen to your lungs and the rest of your body. Iron is also a vital component of the myoglobin in your muscles. You can get iron from food sources such as dried beans and fruit. Egg yolk, liver, red meat and poultry meat contain iron. Look to tuna, salmon and oysters for additional sources of iron.
General Dose
The amount of iron you need daily can be affected by age and gender. Children between 7 to 12 months old need 11 mg each day, the University of Maryland Medical Center recommends. This drops to 7 mg per day between the ages of 1 and 3 years. Your daily iron needs increase to 10 mg when you are between 4 and 8 years-old. You will need 11 mg of iron each day when you are between 9 and 13 years-old. Boys from 14 to 18 years of age need 11 mg of iron daily, while girls in the same age group need as much as 15 mg of iron each day. Males between 19 to 50 years of age need only 8 mg of iron each day, while their female counterparts need 15 mg daily. Anyone who is 51 years old and older needs 8 mg of iron daily.
Common Digestive Effects
Exceeding your recommended dose of iron can affect your digestive system in a number of ways. Having a metallic taste in your mouth is a typical side effect of excessive iron, MayoClinic.com explains. Your mouth and throat may swell. You may also experience pain in your abdominal or stomach area. Some people report nausea and vomiting. These are early signs of iron supplement overdose.
Digestive Symptoms in Iron Overdose
Iron supplement overdose can sometimes cause your stool to contain blood when you defecate, Drugs.com notes. Overdosing on iron supplements can also sometimes cause your stool to turn black and sticky. Seek medical advice to avoid any further potential side effects.
Interactions
Some medications such as the gout medication, allopurinol increase the iron stored in your liver, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Cholestyramine and colestipol are medications designed to lower cholesterol and restrict the amount of bile released by your liver. Do not take iron supplements with these kinds of medication. Medications used to treat stomach problems and ulcers can affect the way iron is absorbed through your digestive system.
