Having low iron in your blood leads to a condition known as "anemia." Being anemic can make you feel fatigued, unable to concentrate and frequently irritable. Your doctor may put you on iron supplements to help get your iron stores up, but you may have some adverse mood effects. Irritability may be caused from constant fatigue related to anemia or gastrointestinal distress stemming from a large dose of iron supplements. If you feel your mood is constantly up and down, talk with your health care provider about lowering your dosage or alternatives to getting your iron stores up.
Types of Iron Supplements
Iron supplements can be either ferrous or ferric. Most supplements provide high amounts of ferrous iron, since this type of iron is more bioavailable, or easier for your body to absorb. Your iron supplement lists the amount of elemental iron on the nutrition facts panel or in the insert included with the pill. Elemental iron is the amount of iron within the pill that is available for absorption. For example, ferrous fumarate provides approximately 33 percent elemental iron, whereas ferrous sulfate has around 20 percent elemental iron, the Linus Pauling Institute explains.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Part of your irritability may be related to gastrointestinal distress from therapeutic levels of iron your doctor prescribes to treat anemia. Gastrointestinal problems may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. Additionally, stools may be dark, tarry and difficult to pass. Therapeutic high doses of iron may also cause a rapid heart beat, low blood pressure and irregular breathing. All of these symptoms cause discomfort and may make you feel uneasy, increasing your mood swings and irritability.
Additional Causes of Irritability
Iron deficiency, or anemia, affects your energy levels, makes you feel tired all the time, diminishes concentration and can make you forgetful. These problems may affect your work or school performance, increasing irritability and mood swings. Part of your irritability may not come from the supplements themselves, but from the anemia you are being treated for. Your anemia may be caused from poor absorption of iron, inadequate iron intake or both factors.
Dosage, Toxicity and Food Sources
Women require more iron each day than men; 18 mg versus 8 mg for men. Your physician may have you on high dose supplements to get your iron stores up, but this sort of treatment is usually short-term. Iron can be toxic at doses above 45 mg per day, which is the established tolerable upper limit, or UL, reports the Office of Dietary Supplements. If your supplements are causing discomfort that is making you irritable, consume more iron rich foods. Heme iron, from animal meat, is highly absorbable in your body. Nonheme iron, the kind in your iron supplements, fortified foods and plant sources, is not as easily absorbed, but may still supply efficient iron for your body. Sources of nonheme iron include beans, molasses, tofu, spinach and lentils. Talk with your physician before you make any changes to your diet.
Member Comments