Iron

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What is Iron?

Iron is an essential mineral. Iron is an important part of proteins that transport oxygen are involved with metabolism. There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and non-heme. Sources of heme iron include meat, fish and poultry. Sources of non-heme iron, which is not absorbed as well as heme iron, include beans, lentils, flours, cereals and grain products. Other sources of iron include dried fruit, peas, asparagus, leafy greens, strawberries and nuts.



Side Effects

Abdominal pain, joint pain, arthritis, black teeth, cardiovascular or metabolic toxicity, constipation, dark stool, death, diarrhea, fatigue, gonadal failure (early menopause, impotence, loss of libido), excessive iron accumulation, uncontrollable sweating, nausea weakness, shortness of breath, weight loss, vomiting.



Reactions / Interactions

Acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), allopurinol (Zyloprim®), aminosalicylic acid, antacids, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), bisphosphonates, chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin®), cholestyramine (Questran®), colestipol (Colestid®), desferrioxamine (DFO), dimercaprol, EPO-R, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, H2-blockers, levodopa (Sinemet®), levothyroxine (Levoxyl®, Synthroid®), methyldopa (Aldomet®), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®), pancreatic enzymes, pancrelipase, pancreatin, penicilla...



What is Iron?

Iron is an essential mineral. Iron is an important part of proteins that transport oxygen are involved with metabolism. There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and non-heme. Sources of heme iron include meat, fish and poultry. Sources of non-heme iron, which is not absorbed as well as heme iron, include beans, lentils, flours, cereals and grain products. Other sources of iron include dried fruit, peas, asparagus, leafy greens, strawberries and nuts.

Side Effects

Abdominal pain, joint pain, arthritis, black teeth, cardiovascular or metabolic toxicity, constipation, dark stool, death, diarrhea, fatigue, gonadal failure (early menopause, impotence, loss of libido), excessive iron accumulation, uncontrollable sweating, nausea weakness, shortness of breath, weight loss, vomiting.

Reactions / Interactions

Acetohydroxamic acid (AHA), allopurinol (Zyloprim®), aminosalicylic acid, antacids, aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), bisphosphonates, chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin®), cholestyramine (Questran®), colestipol (Colestid®), desferrioxamine (DFO), dimercaprol, EPO-R, fluoroquinolone antibiotics, H2-blockers, levodopa (Sinemet®), levothyroxine (Levoxyl®, Synthroid®), methyldopa (Aldomet®), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®), pancreatic enzymes, pancrelipase, pancreatin, penicillamine (Cuprimine® or Depen®), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), tetracycline antibiotics, acacia, calcium, copper, organic acids, phytic acid (phytate), polyphenols, riboflavin (vitamin B2), selenium, soy, vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin E, zinc, coffee, tea, dairy products, juice, meat, fish, poultry and other herbs or supplements with similar effects.

Safety

Iron is a trace mineral, and hypersensitivity is unlikely. Avoid if known allergy/hypersensitivity to products containing iron. Avoid excessive intake. Avoid iron supplements with blood disorders that require frequent blood transfusions. Use iron supplement cautiously with history of kidney disease, intestinal disease, peptic ulcer disease, enteritis, colitis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, alcoholism, those who plan to become pregnant, or are over age 55 and have a family history of heart disease. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult a healthcare professional before beginning iron supplementation.

Dosage

Adults (18 years and older)

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Males (19-50 years): 8mg/day; Females (19-50 years) 18mg/day; Adults (51 years and older) 8mg/day; pregnant women (all ages) 27mg/day; breastfeeding women (19 years and older) 9 mg/day. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (highest dose that can be taken safely): Adults (19 years and older) 45mg/day.

Children (18 years and younger)

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): Infants 0-6 months 0.27 AI (adequate intake level (AI) used when RDA cannot be determined); 11mg for 7-12 months; 7mg for 1-3 years; 10mg for 4-8 years; 8mg for 9-13 years (male and female); 11mg for males 14-18 years; 15mg for females 14-18 years; 27mg for pregnant females 14-18 years; 10mg for breastfeeding females 14-18 years. Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (highest dose that can be taken safely): Infants (1-12 months) not possible to establish; children (1-13 years) 40mg/day; adolescents (14-18 years) 45mg/day.

Evidence

Condition: Iron deficiency (anemia) Grade: A

Condition: Anemia of chronic disease Grade: A

Condition: ACE inhibitor-associated cough Grade: B

Condition: Preventing iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy Grade: B

Condition: Preventing iron deficiency in menstruating women Grade: B

Condition: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Grade: C

Condition: Fatigue in women with low ferritin levels Grade: C

Condition: Improving cognitive performance related to iron deficiency Grade: C

Condition: Lead toxicity Grade: C

Condition: Preventing anemia associated with preterm/low birth weight infants Grade: C

Condition: Preventing iron deficiency anemia due to gastrointestinal bleeding Grade:

Condition: Preventing iron deficiency after blood donation Grade: C

Condition: Preventing iron deficiency in exercising women Grade: C

Condition: Treatment of predialysis anemia Grade: C

Condition: Therapy for anemia after orthopedic surgery Grade: D

Disclaimer: These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Content provided by:

"Content Licensed by Natural Standard. Copyright 2009 by Natural Standard Corporation."


While some complementary and alternative techniques have been studied scientifically, high-quality data regarding safety, effectiveness, and mechanism of action are limited or controversial for most therapies. Whenever possible, it is recommended that practitioners be licensed by a recognized professional organization that adheres to clearly published standards. In addition, before starting a new technique or engaging a practitioner, it is recommended that patients speak with their primary healthcare provider(s). Potential benefits, risks (including financial costs), and alternatives should be carefully considered. The below monograph is designed to provide historical background and an overview of clinically-oriented research, and neither advocates for or against the use of a particular therapy. The information in this monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. Information is based on review of scientific research data, historical practice patterns, and clinical experience. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions.

Iron Videos

Iron Articles

  • Facts on Iron

    Your body needs iron since the mineral makes hemoglobin, and hemoglobin carries oxygen in your blood cells from the lungs to your organs. The cells that fight off infection, primarily white blood ...

  • List of Iron Supplements

    ...to perform the daily functions of life. Iron, one of these minerals, is important for oxygen transport and growth regulation. Iron deficiency, common in vegetarians, distance runners and pregnan...

  • Foods to Increase Iron

    iron-deficient anemia is a medical condition that can be caused by pregnancy, blood loss or a diet that does not contain enough iron. iron is necessary to create hemoglobin, which transports oxygen...

  • Food High in Iron

    iron is a mineral in food that helps produce red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body. Different forms of iron are absorbed at different rates, with heme iron from animal products one of ...

Show More

Related Symptoms

  • Gastrointestinal bleeding

    Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding refers to any bleeding that starts in the gastrointestinal tract, which extends from t...

  • Nail abnormalities

    Nail abnormalities are problems with the color, shape, texture, or thickness of the fingernails or toenails.

  • Bloody or tarry stools

    Bloody stools often indicate an injury or disorder in the digestive tract. Your doctor may use the term "melena" to d...

  • Fatigue

    Fatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.

Show More

Food for Thought

Healthy granola (good for vegans)

...ecipe with blackstrap molasses (high in iron), and most oil replaced by applesauce.

Calories: 320     Fat: 13.7922     Cholesterol: 0     Sodium: 148.9563     Total Carbohydrates: 43.4513     Fiber: 10.6251     Sugars: 17.1594     Protein: 7.5003     Vitamin C:    

Slow Cooked Steak

... You can substitute London Broil, Flat Iron or a Boneless Beef Sirloin each 2 lbs

Calories: 238     Fat: 10.021     Cholesterol: 68.8     Sodium: 306.453     Total Carbohydrates: 7.1648     Fiber: 0.6552     Sugars: 1.875     Protein: 25.9438     Vitamin C:    

Dutch Baby German Pancake

... puffy, baked pancake. A preheated cast-iron skillet enables the batter to start cooking immediately and causes it...

Calories: 779     Fat: 46.243     Cholesterol: 328.75     Sodium: 428.75     Total Carbohydrates: 67.9056     Fiber: 0     Sugars: 28     Protein: 13.8865     Vitamin C:    

Fire Roasted Tomato Soup with Sausage

Simple crockpot meal that is high in iron.

Calories: 249     Fat: 4.2     Cholesterol: 6.4     Sodium: 1786     Total Carbohydrates: 29.8     Fiber: 9.4     Sugars: 5     Protein: 25     Vitamin C:    

waffles

...just combined. 3. Spray your waffle iron well with cooking spray and pour about 1/2 cup mixture until the well...

Calories: 94     Fat: 2.3     Cholesterol: 0     Sodium: 25.5     Total Carbohydrates: 15.4     Fiber: 2.6     Sugars: 0.6     Protein: 3.6     Vitamin C:    

banana raison oatmeal/bran

self explanatory

Calories: 543     Fat: 6.5     Cholesterol: 0     Sodium: 14     Total Carbohydrates: 118     Fiber: 19     Sugars: 48     Protein: 15     Vitamin C:    

Show More

Related Drugs

  • Ferrous Sulfate (Iron)

    This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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  • Deferasirox

    Deferasirox is used to remove excess iron that is in the body because of blood transfusions. Deferasirox is in a clas...

  • Cefdinir

    This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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Related Diseases

  • Iron deficiency anemia

    ...issues. There are many types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red cells in the blo...

  • Iron deficiency anemia - children

    iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells due to a lack of iron.This article focuses on i...

  • Hemochromatosis

    ...s with the body's ability to break down iron, and results in too much iron being absorbed from the gastrointestina...

  • Plummer-Vinson syndrome/esophageal web

    ...on that occurs with long-term (chronic) iron deficiency anemia. People with this condition have difficulty swallow...

  • Thalassemia

    Thalassemia is an blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of...

  • Anemia

    ...a due to folate deficiencyAnemia due to iron deficiencyHemolytic anemiaHemolytic anemia due to G-6-PD deficiencyId...

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Related Surgeries

  • Gastric bypass surgery

    This surgery helps you lose weight by changing how your stomach and small intestine handle the food you eat.After the...

Related Exercises and Activities

Tailoring - pressing

Pressing (also called ironing) is one of the most physically demanding aspects of tailoring. Typically done while sta...

Steel mill: general

...cture of steel. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is...

Standing - light/moderate work

...ied by adding household chores, such as ironing or cleaning out the back bedroom.

Ironing

Ironing doesn't burn too many calories over your basal metabolic rate, but it does burn some! Remember, if you cho...

Ironing

Ironing is a slow-paced activity but does give your entire upper body a great workout! Ironing engages the muscles i...

Ironing

Ironing doesn't burn too many calories over your basal metabolic rate, but it does burn some! Remember, if you cho...

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Vitamins

  • Iron

    Iron is an essential mineral. Iron is an important part of proteins that transport oxygen are involved with metabolis...

  • Vanilla

    Vanilla is a constituent derived from orchids in the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. Traditionally, it has been used ...

  • Liver extract

    ... desiccated liver have been marketed as iron supplements for over a century. The extract is processed cow or pig l...

  • Strawberry

    ...y be useful as an anti-inflammatory and iron absorption enhancement. Further research is needed to confirm these r...

Show More

Related Tests

  • Serum iron

    Serum iron is a test that measures how much iron is in your blood.

  • Total iron binding capacity

    Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) is a blood test that shows if there is too much or too little iron in the blood. I...

  • Ferritin

    ... protein found inside cells that stores iron so your body can use it later. A ferritin test indirectly measures th...

  • Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)

    A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a noninvasive test (nothing enters the body). This test detects hidden (occult) b...

Show More

Related Poisons

  • Iron overdose

    Iron is a mineral found in many over-the-counter supplements. Iron overdose occurs when someone accidentally or inten...

  • Steam iron cleaner

    Steam iron cleaner is a substance used to clean steam irons. Poisoning occurs when someone swallows steam iron cleane...

  • Multiple vitamin overdose

    Multiple vitamin overdose occurs when someone accidentally or intentionally takes more than the normal or recommended...

  • Sodium carbonate poisoning

    Sodium carbonate (also known as washing soda or soda ash) is a chemical found in many household and industrial produc...

  • Lead poisoning

    Lead is a very strong poison. When a person swallows a lead object or breathes in lead dust, some of the poison can s...

Conversations On Iron

  • Iron loss through exercise


    • Posted On January 16, 2009 02:50:00 PM

      ... health that said exercise uses up more iron stores than not exercising. I'm a vegetarian and though I eat plenty of wholegrains, cereal and meat substitutes with added iron and a liquid iron su... Read More

    • Posted On January 16, 2009 03:15:50 PM

      I dunno. Just get some more iron! Read More

  • Too much Iron?


    • Posted On July 24, 2007 01:11:39 PM

      ...216% of the daily recommended amount of Iron. This is partly due to the Centrum Multi vitamin I'm taking which contains 100% of the recommended amount. Is this enough to harm me? Should I stop t... Read More

    • Posted On July 24, 2007 01:15:51 PM

      http://womenshealth.about.com/od/common ... erload.htm http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vitam ... rdose.html Read More

  • Iron Pills?


    • Posted On August 21, 2008 10:54:31 AM

      ...ily nutrition label and noticed that my iron never gets over 50% or the RDA. Should I be taking iron pills, or is there a good chance that a lot of the food on the daily plate doesn't show the ... Read More

    • Posted On August 21, 2008 10:57:26 AM

      I think that iron is just not tracked on here appropriately. It all depends on how others put in the information. But about the iron, don't worry too much about it unless you are really off on your... Read More

  • Iron Pills...


    • Posted On April 15, 2008 12:30:17 PM

      ... My doc just put me on 2 a day since my iron was terribly low - I had to cancel surgery because I'm so anemic. Anyway, I haven't had any "stomach" side effects so far, but other than drinking ... Read More

    • Posted On April 15, 2008 08:04:54 PM

      i had anemia, and i started taking iron pills too, it makes the stool go black :S, just make sure you have alot of water and fiber, i didnt have any problems but i do wonder what is it about iron p... Read More

  • Low iron/ borderline anemia?


    • Posted On February 17, 2009 07:43:28 AM

      ...od on Saturday and they told me that my iron was low. 12.5 is considered anemic and I was at 12.9. They gave me a little pamplet on foods to eat to increase you iron..I was going over the list a... Read More

    • Posted On February 17, 2009 09:37:47 AM

      ...check with your doctor before taking an iron supplement. Too much iron can be harmful and even fatal sometimes. I was diagnosed with "transient anemia" some time ago. My doc put me on... Read More

  • recipes to up iron intake


    • Posted On March 12, 2007 09:26:41 AM

      My husband needs to boost his iron intake in food - he's already taking an iron supplement - this is via his doc, BTW. We were told to look for combinations that ramp up the intake like sirloin and... Read More

    • Posted On March 12, 2007 10:30:24 AM

      ... green with Orange Juice will help with iron absorption. Eating calcium/milk with dark, iron rich foods will block the amout of iron the body can absorb. That's why, even though you're eating ... Read More

Show More

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Connect with Iron Dares & Groups

Manage Anemia

- 54 members

Manage Anemia by including more iron in the diet, increasing muscle and bone strength with regular exercise, and taking supplements if necessary. Anemia can lead to fatigue and other health proble...

Iron Willed

- 2 Members

willsfitness family and friends

Addicted to Foodnetwork

- 7 Members

...how, yet go to bed at 12:00 am watching Iron Chef!

Talk

jogosonline_cg: Jogos Online de Puzzle: Iron Works http://br1.me/9sqHEa jogue agora e concorra a prêmios!

suzysourires: RT @MSNExclu: Iron Man 2 : la bande annonce finale sur MSN avant tout le monde ! http://video.fr.msn.com/watch/video/iron-man-2-bande-annonce/108wsl0su

daveweinberg: cast-iron waffle #fail

e_earphone: @j_iron ã‚ãã“ã¯åƒ•ç­‰ã®ãƒ–ームスãƒãƒƒãƒˆã§ã™ã®ã§w

kevdo242: @KyleHopwood with enough work put into it, you couldve made an Iron Man out of beer bottles.



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