Vitamins can be either water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins are not stored in the body, and excess amounts of these vitamins are excreted. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body, and getting an excess of these vitamins can be dangerous. Because iron is a mineral, it cannot be classified as either a water-soluble vitamin or a fat-soluble vitamin. However, getting too much of an iron supplement can be dangerous.
Vitamins and Minerals
Although both vitamins and minerals are necessary for your body to work properly, they're very different. Vitamins are organic substances, made by plants and animals. Minerals are inorganic elements, which come from the earth. Vitamins are classified as water-soluble or fat-soluble, but minerals are not.
Necessity of Iron Supplements
Because the risks associated with high iron intake are serious, eating a healthy and balanced diet is usually preferable to taking iron supplements. Most healthy people can meet their iron requirements through diet alone and do not need iron supplements. For example, men and postmenopausal women are unlikely to develop iron deficiency and typically do not need supplementation, according to the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements. But some groups of people may not be able to get the iron they need through food alone, especially if they have poor diets or medical conditions that interfere with iron absorption.
Iron Recommendations
Most healthy adults can take up to 45 mg of iron a day. Getting significantly more -- usually 50 to 100 times this amount -- typically results in a severe iron overdose, which can be life-threatening, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Getting more than the recommended dietary allowance on a regular basis can lead to a buildup of iron, which also can be dangerous. Because of this, take only the recommended dietary allowance for your gender and age group.
Iron Overdose
An untreated iron overdose can be fatal. Symptoms can include changes in skin color, gastrointestinal upset, fever, dizziness, headaches, chills, a sudden drop in blood pressure, drowsiness, chills, convulsions, a fast or weak pulse, dehydration and shock. About 30 minutes after an overdose, you may even go into a coma. Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone around you experience any of these symptoms after taking an iron supplement. Do this even if the symptoms seem to disappear. They may return. The sooner you get medical attention, the more likely you are to recover.
References
- TeensHealth; Vitamins and Minerals; Mary J. Gavin; October 2009
- Colorado State University Extension; Fat-Soluble Vitamins; J. Anderson et al.; August 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Iron; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2009
- U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron
- Medline Plus; Iron Overdose; Jacob L. Heller; January 2010
- Institute of Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes: Elements
Member Comments