Iron, a mineral found in seafood, meat, poultry and fortified cereals, plays an important role in the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, delivers oxygen to the body's tissues and organs. Iron supplements can help prevent or treat iron deficiency anemia. These supplements may cause bloating and other gastrointestinal side effects.
Need for Iron Supplements
Insufficient intake or absorption of iron can cause iron deficiency anemia, with symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, inflamed tongue and decreased performance at work and school. Individuals at risk for iron deficiency anemia include pregnant women, teenage girls and women of childbearing age, preterm and low birth-weight infants and individuals with renal failure and gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease.
Side Effects
High doses of iron supplements used to treat iron deficiency anemia may cause gastrointestinal side effects, including bloating, abdominal distress, nausea, vomiting, constipation and diarrhea. Don't take iron supplements without consulting your doctor.
Types
Iron supplements come in many forms, including ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate. No evidence supports the claim that iron supplements made with polysaccharide-iron complex cause fewer side effects than other types of iron, notes MedlinePlus. Ferrous gluconate may cause fewer side effects than ferrous sulfate, however, according to the Harvard University Information Center for Sickle Cell and Thalassemic Disorders.
Minimizing Symptoms
Taking iron supplements with food may help minimize symptoms. However, the body absorbs a lower percentage of iron from supplements taken with food. You can minimize side effects by beginning with only half the recommended dose of iron and increasing the dose gradually. Taking the recommended dose in several divided doses may also help. Delayed-release iron supplements may cause fewer side effects, but the body may not absorb as much iron from these products.
Warning
Because adult men and postmenopausal women have a greater risk of iron overload, these individuals should only take iron supplements with a doctor's supervision, notes the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. High doses of iron can cause iron poisoning, causing problems such as liver failure and low blood pressure. Iron poisoning can be fatal. Consult your doctor or a poison control center immediately if you suspect you or a family member has taken too high a dose of iron.
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