Sometimes, the levels of different minerals in your body, such as iron, can be affected by medications that you take. Metformin is a drug used to treat high blood glucose levels, but it may also affect iron levels. However, there is no known drug interaction between metformin and iron supplements. You should talk to your doctor before taking iron or any other sort of supplement.
Iron
Iron is a mineral found in many different foods, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy products and some plants. Iron is important for your health because of its role in making proteins, including hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and allows them to transport oxygen throughout the body. You may take iron supplements if you have an anemia due to low iron levels.
Iron and Diabetes
Iron levels may be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes, a condition in which your body becomes less sensitive to insulin. High levels of iron in your body can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, the Linus Pauling Institute notes. In addition, people with type 2 diabetes often have elevated levels of ferritin, a protein that serves as a marker for the amount of iron in your body. This suggests that consuming iron could affect the way your body responds to insulin.
Metformin and Iron
Metformin is often prescribed as a treatment for insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and other conditions, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome. An article published in a 2008 issue of "The European Journal of Endocrinology" suggested that metformin may be able to improve some of the signs of these diseases by lowering the amount of iron in the body. This suggests that taking metformin may reduce your body's iron stores, potentially requiring iron supplementation.
Considerations
According to Drugs.com, there is no documented interaction between metformin and iron supplements, so it is most likely safe for you to take the two compounds at the same time. However, if you are taking metformin for diabetes, you may need to avoid iron supplements because the iron may aggravate your diabetes. Talk to your doctor before adding any sort of mineral supplement, including iron, to your diet.
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