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Do you need iron supplements?

Iron is a mineral that’s vital to your health. All of your cells contain some iron, but most of the iron in your body is in your red blood cells. Red blood cells transport oxygen from your lungs to the organs and tissues throughout your body.

Iron has a role in creating energy from nutrients. It also contributes to the transmission of nerve impulses — the signals that coordinate the actions of different parts of your body. If you have more iron than is needed, it’s stored in your body for future use.

The average American gets all the iron they need from the foods they eat. But there are certain situations and conditions that may make it necessary to add supplemental iron to your diet.

You have iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is caused when there’s not enough iron in your red blood cells. Without healthy levels of iron, your red blood cells cannot effectively provide oxygen to your cells and tissues.

Symptoms of anemia include:

• fatigue
• weakness
• dizziness
• difficulty concentrating

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia in the United States. Almost five million Americans have it.

Common causes of anemia include:

• menstruation, particularly if flow is heavy or prolonged
• peptic ulcer disease
• cancer in the digestive tract
• blood loss from trauma or blood donation
• gastrointestinal bleeding from prolonged use of medications like aspirin and ibuprofen

Women who aren’t pregnant or nursing need to take in 15 to 18 milligrams of iron daily. Women who are pregnant need significantly more iron. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the recommended dietary allowance of iron for pregnant women is 27 milligrams per day.

Don’t double up on your prenatal vitamins if you’re concerned that you’re not getting enough iron. This could cause you to get too much of other vitamins, and may hurt your baby. Instead, talk to your doctor about taking an iron supplement along with your prenatal vitamin.

Menstruation depletes iron stores. This is why women have higher anemia rates than men. Some research suggests that ethnicity is a risk factor for anemia. It is estimated that 19 percent of African-American and Mexican-American women are anemic. Compared to 9 to 12 percent of non-Hispanic white women.

According to the Office on Women’s Health, female athletes are at an increased risk for iron deficiency. The exact reason isn’t known. Researchers theorise that athletes may need more red blood cells to carry oxygen so they can keep exercising.

Talk to your doctor if you’re very active and you are experiencing symptoms associated with anaemia.

People who experience excessive blood loss often need extra iron. Regular blood donors and people who have gastrointestinal bleeding are at risk. Gastrointestinal bleeding can be caused by medications or conditions such as ulcers and cancer. Donating blood on a regular basis isn’t recommended if you’re consistently low in iron.

Some medications can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb iron. Medications that can deplete iron include:

• quinolones, a family of antibiotics that includes ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and levofloxacin (Levaquin)
• tetracycline (Panmycin)
• ranitidine (Zantac) and omeprazole (Prilosec) for ulcers, heartburn, and other stomach problems
• angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for high blood pressure
• colestipol (Colestid) and cholestyramine (Prevalite) for cholesterol lowering bile acid sequestrants

If you’re concerned about one of your medicines causing anemia, see your doctor. But don’t stop taking a medication unless you are specifically instructed to do so.

Most people respond well to taking iron supplements, which are available in capsules. Some people with very low iron levels may need intravenous iron.

Ideally, you should take iron supplements on an empty stomach because food can decrease the amount of iron your body absorbs. Taking iron supplements with foods or drinks that have vitamin C will help your body absorb the iron.

Be sure to take only the recommended dose of iron. Too much can be toxic, especially for children. And talk to your doctor to find out how long you need to take an iron supplement.