Although iron is necessary for the proper functioning of the human body -- it is a component of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that helps your body acquire oxygen, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Overconsumption of iron can lead to toxicity. Although beef is an abundant source of iron, toxicity from heavy reliance on beef as a food source is unlikely.
Tolerable Upper Limit
The Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine has set a tolerable upper limit of 40 milligrams of iron per day for infants and children, and 45 mg per day for adolescents and adults, according to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. A daily intake of 20 milligrams per kilogram of body weight may cause acute toxicity, and a dose of 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight may be fatal.
Iron Content in Beef
A 3-ounce serving of lean sirloin contains about 2.9 milligrams of iron, and the same-sized serving of lean ground beef provides about 1.8 milligrams, according to Harvard University Health Services. A 3-ounce serving of beef liver contains about 5.8 milligrams of iron. This means that a child would have to consume about 66 ounces of ground beef, 41 ounces of sirloin or 21 ounces of beef liver to reach the tolerable upper limit. Adolescents and adults would have to consume 75 ounces of ground beef, 47 ounces of sirloin or 23 ounces of beef liver.
Toxicity Symptoms
Digestive distress is a common symptom of mild iron toxicity -- you may experience, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation or gastrointestinal upset. Dark stools may also accompany mild iron toxicity. Acute toxicity symptoms may include weak pulse, low blood pressure, lethargy and death.
Considerations
Because of the amount of beef consumption that would be necessary to produce toxic symptoms, supplements containing iron may pose a more substantial risk of toxicity than iron found in these food sources. Consult with your doctor before increasing your beef intake if you have alcoholic cirrhosis or another liver disease, or if you have hereditary hemochromatosis. These conditions may cause toxicity symptoms at doses below the tolerable upper limit.
