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Iron

Iron has been used for therapeutic uses for thousands of years. It was used by the Egyptians to cure baldness and by the Greeks it was used in wine to restore male potency.

Most people think iron is a cure for chronic fatigue, increases the risk of early death by heart attack, heart disease, joint pain, diabetes, cirrhosis, impotence, infertility, depression and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, early on-set Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Huntington's Disease.

• Baldness

• Chronic fatigue syndrome

• Cirrhosis

• Depression

• Epilepsy

• fatigue

• Impotence

• Infertility, female
• Infertility, male
• Multiple sclerosis

It is the most plentiful element on earth and it is an essential trace mineral for humans. Two-thirds of the iron present in the body—about 3.5 g to 4.5 g—are in the blood and the rest is stored in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and muscles.
Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, myoglobin and a cofactor of several essential enzymes. Of the total iron in the body, 60 to 70 percent is stored in hemoglobin (the red part of red blood cells—a component of myoglobin, an iron-protein complex in muscles. When the muscles work harder this complex helps in getting them extra energy.

• Diabetes
• Diabetes, gestational
• Diabetic retinopathy

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Diabetic retinopathy

How This Mineral Works in Your Body:

• Transports oxygen and contributes to the storage of oxygen in the cells
• Prevents and treats iron-deficiency anemia due to dietary iron deficiency or other causes
• Stimulates bone-marrow production of hemoglobin, the red-blood-cell pigment that carries oxygen to body cells
• Forms part of several enzymes and proteins in the body
• Essential for protein metabolism
• Assist in the production of thyroid hormones, connective tissue and several brain neurotransmitters
• Maintains a healthy immune system
• help alleviate menstrual pain
• stimulate immunity in iron-deficient people
• promote learning in children with iron deficiency
• Many women, of child-bearing age, with heavy menstrual flow and women with long or short menstrual periods (common in teenage girls)
• Anyone with inadequate caloric or dietary intake or increased nutritional requirements
• People over the age of 55
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Those who abuse alcohol or other drugs

• Alcohol addiction

• People with a chronic wasting illness
• Those under excess stress for long periods
• Anyone who has recently undergone surgery
• Athletes and workers who participate in vigorous physical activities
• Anyone who has lost blood recently such as from heavy menstrual periods, an accident or long-term, undetected gastrointestinal bleeding
• Vegetarians with inadequate dietary intake
• Infants from 2 to 24 months

• Anemia
• Anemia, aplastic
• Anemia, general
• Anemia, iron deficiency
• Anemia, sickle cell
• Anemia, vitamin deficiency

Where This Mineral is Found:

• Bread, enriched
• Mussels
• Egg yolk
• Oysters
• Fish
• Red meats
• Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
• Seaweed,
• Greens
• Whole-grain
• Lentils
• Liver
• Molasses, blackstrap
• Dried fruits
• Poultry
• Enriched cereals
• Soybean flour
• Flour

People with normal iron levels in their body absorb about 10 percent of the food iron consumed from food; however, an iron-deficient person can absorb about 20 to 30 percent.

How to Use:

A prescription is required for some forms of an iron supplement
Take whole, as a tablet or capsule, with a full glass of liquid. Do not chew or crush it. Take along with food or immediately after food consumption to lessen stomach irritation
When taking orally, dilute in at least Ѕ glass of water or another liquid. Take with your meals or 1 to 1-1/2 hours after your meal unless otherwise advised by your physician.
Chewable tablets should be chewed well before swallowing.
As an enteric-coated tablet, take whole with a full glass of liquid. Take with your meals or 1 to 1-1/2 hours after your meal unless otherwise advised by your physician.

Available as:

• Syrups
• Chewable tablets
• Tablets
• Capsules
• Injections
• Ferritin, an iron protein complex
• Obtained both naturally and synthetically

Recommended Daily Intakes:
Suggest Intake: 10-18 mg
Men: 10 mg
Women: 15 mg
Pregnant: 30 mg
Lactating: 15 mg
Children: 10 mg

Cautions:
Do not take if you have:

• An allergy to any iron supplement
• Acute hepatitis
• Hemosiderosis or hemochromatosis (conditions involving excess iron in body)
• Hemolytic anemia
• Had repeated blood transfusions

• Anemia
• Anemia, aplastic
• Anemia, general
• Anemia, iron deficiency
• Anemia, sickle cell
• Anemia, vitamin deficiency
• Hepatitis

Consult your doctor if you have:
Any plans to become pregnant while on mediation
Had peptic-ulcer disease, enteritis, colitis
Had pancreatitis or hepatitis
A history of alcoholism

• Alcohol addiction
• Colitis
• Hepatitis

Kidney disease
Intestinal disease
Excess vitamin C—problematic in people with iron-storage disorder

Over 55:
Deficiency is a common occurrence. Frequently check with your physician for symptoms of anemia or slow blood loss in your stool.
If your family has a history of heart disease, consult your physician before adding an iron supplement to your diet.

Pregnancy:
Being pregnant increases the need for iron. Consult with your physician. In the first 3 months of pregnancy, take an iron supplement only if prescribed by your physician.

Breastfeeding:
You probably do not require a supplement if you are healthy and eat a well balanced diet, however you should consult with your physician.
Your infant might need supplementation, namely if they are premature. Consult with your physician.

Storage:
Keep in a cool and dry location and away from direct light, but do not freeze.
Keep safely away from children, with a childproof cap. Unfortunately, children have been known to overdose on Iron tablets due to their likeness to candy.
Do not keep in bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and dampness alter the action of the mineral.

Safe dosage:
It is advised that you consult with your physician for the proper dose for your condition

Others:
Iron can build up to harmful levels (hemosiderosis) in patients with chronic kidney failure, Hodgkins disease or rheumatoid arthritis.
Extended use in high doses can cause hemochromatosis (iron-storage disease), leading to bronze skin, diabetes, liver damage, impotence and heart problems.

• Diabetes
• Diabetes, gestational
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Impotence
• Kidney failure

• Peripheral neuropathy

• Diabetic retinopathy

• Autonomic neuropathy

• Rheumatoid arthritis

Symptoms of Deficiency:
Listlessness
Heart palpitations upon exertion
Fatigue
Irritability
Pale appearance to skin, mucous membranes, nails
Decreased mental capacity, learning deficit
Pica

• cancer
• fatigue

Overdose:
Signs and symptoms: What to do:
Early signs: Diarrhea with blood, severe nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting with blood: Discontinue use of mineral and consult with your physician.
Late signs: Weakness; collapse; pallor; blue lips, hands, fingernails; shallow breathing; convulsions; coma; weak, rapid heartbeat: Discontinue use of mineral and consult with your physician.
Too much iron result in an increased risk of cancer and coronary disease: Discontinue use of mineral and consult with your physician.

• Abdominal pain
• cancer
• diarrhea
• Nausea
• vomiting

Accidental Overdose:
Lab tests for deficiency detection:
Serum ferritin
Serum iron
Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Red-blood-cell count
Microscopic exam of red blood cells

Effect on lab tests:
Iron cause unusual outcomes in serum bilirubin, serum calcium, serum iron, special radioactive studies of bones using technetium (Tc-99m-labeled agents) and stool studies for blood.

Side Effects:
Signs and symptoms: What to do?
Abdominal pain: Discontinue use. Call physician immediately.
Black or gray stools (always): Nothing.
Blood in stools: Seek emergency treatment
Chest pain: Seek emergency treatment.
Drowsiness: Discontinue use. Call physician when convenient
Stained tooth (with liquid forms): Mix with water or juice to lessen effect. Brush teeth with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide to help remove stain.
Throat pain: Discontinue use. Call physician immediately.

• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain

Interactions:
Interacts with: Combined effect:

• Allopurinol: cause excess iron storage in liver.
• Antacids: Does not allow sufficient iron absorption.
• Calcium: Combination necessary for efficient calcium absorption.
• Cholestyramine: Decreases effect of iron.
• Copper: Aids in copper absorption.
• Iron supplements (other): result in excess iron storage in liver.
• Pancreatin: Decreases absorption of iron.
• Penicillamine: Decreases penicillamine effect
• Sulfasalazine: Decreases effect of iron.
• Tetracyclines: Decreases tetracycline effect Take iron 3 hours before or 2 hours after taking tetracycline.
• Alcohol: Increases the utilization of iron and cause organ damage

• Alcohol addiction

• Milk, cheese, yogurt and eggs, tea., coffee, spinach bran, whole-grain and cereals: Decreases the body’s uptake of iron
• Vitamin C: Enhances the body’s uptake of iron

Not Enough Iron Drains Endurance

Studies have shown that the endurance levels of women low on iron may be shortened, even among women who have not developed full-blown anemia. On a more positive note, women who take a sufficient amount of iron may help correct the problem.

• Anemia
• Anemia, aplastic
• Anemia, general
• Anemia, iron deficiency
• Anemia, sickle cell
• Anemia, vitamin deficiency

The study consisted of 41 women between the ages of 18 and 33, who were moderately iron deficient and taking iron supplements or placebo pills for six weeks. The results showed that they experienced a boost in fitness after taking iron supplements. Iron-deficiency anemia happens when the body has low amounts of hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein found in the red cells, that transports oxygen. All of the participants of the study rode stationary bikes five days a week for the last four weeks of the study.

The purpose of the study was to determine if iron supplements would help these women get more out of their workouts. Researchers looked specifically at a measure called serum transferring receptor concentration (sTfR), an indicator of iron levels in the body tissues, in which the greater the concentration, the greater the iron deficiency in the tissue.

Some of the symptoms of anemia include fatigue, pale skin and breathlessness during exercise. Although iron deficiency has been shown in animal studies to diminish endurance, evidence of this has not been consistently shown in human studies.

• fatigue

The findings from the study revealed that women who were given iron supplements made greater fitness gains during their exercise programs. On the other hand, the supplements didn’t offer any fitness benefits to women with normal sTfR levels, whose endurance improved regardless of taking the iron. This finding suggested the amount of iron loss had not been limited to their endurance in the first place.

Experts have recommended people should consult with a doctor before taking iron supplements because of their many side effects, which include abdominal pain, nausea, constipation and diarrhea. Experts also suggested that people assess their dietary intake and look for good sources of iron like red meat, lentil and spinach before taking iron pills.

• Abdominal pain
• constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea

Women Can Have Too Much Iron

Iron is potentially toxic because it serves as a catalyst in oxidation-reduction reactions. Also, because the human body has a limited capacity to excrete iron, it can build up in the body. Awareness of the potential harm of iron stores in the body has increased as animal and tissue studies have shown that large amounts of iron can encourage increased rates of tumor growth, and have found evidence of peroxidation induced by iron.

In one study of men, those with serum ferritin (SF), an acute phase reactant protein used to measure iron in the body, concentrations of greater than 200 µg/L had an over twofold increase in acute myocardial infarction than men with SF concentrations below 200 µg/L. While other studies did not reflect these findings, researchers suggest that increased SF concentrations may not reflect increased iron stores, but may result from infections associated with coronary heart disease.

Most studies to date have been conducted in men, who tend to have higher iron stores than women. Few studies have been conducted to determine an association between iron stores and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women of reproductive age. One recent study examined this association among relatively healthy, non-pregnant women aged 20 to 49 years. Data from a survey conducted from 1988 to 1994 were used to examine the relation between SF concentration and CVD risk factors including body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, HDL cholesterol, plasma glucose, and blood pressure. Results indicated that SF was strongly correlated with total body iron stores, which combines hemoglobin, serum transferrin, and ferritin. Researchers say that these findings suggest that CVD risk factors are positively associated with iron stores in women of this age group.

Excess Iron Can Cause Parkinson's

Eating a diet too high in iron puts you at an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, according to a study. People with the highest levels of iron were 1.7 more likely to develop the disease than those with the lowest iron intake. Further, people with high levels of both iron and manganese were almost two times as likely to develop Parkinson’s.

Iron and manganese contribute to oxidative stress in the body, which may lead to a degeneration of brain cells that are affected by Parkinson’s disease. Foods such as spinach, legumes, nuts and whole grains are rich in both iron and manganese, but researchers stress that the benefits of such foods outweigh the risks of developing Parkinson’s disease.

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