Is taking 35mg of iron supplements too much?

Question

I have been feeling extrememly tired, irritable, pretty much all the signs of anemia. Is taking 35 mg of iron in a dietary supplement too much?

Answer 1

The USRDA for iron is 18 mg. This includes what you get in your diet. Only under a health care provider's care should you exceed that amount.

It's pretty easy to get too much iron, because the body stores it.

Here is a link to read more about anemia. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anemia/article_em.htm
Of course, you know iron-deficiency is not the only cause. And anemia is not the only cause of fatigue. So be careful in your self-diagnosis.

Some nutritional causes of iron deficiency are too much Zinc or Vitamin E or Phosphorus, not enough Vitamin C, prolonged use of antacids or excessive consumption of tea or coffee. Candida overgrowth or chronic herpes infections cause iron deficiency, too.

Some visible symptoms of not enough iron are brittle hair, nails that are spoon shaped or have lengthwise ridges, hair loss, fatigue, pallor, dizziness, white gums.

Vitamin B deficiency is much more common and can cause the tiredness & irritability. It can be caused by caffeine and other diuretics, as well as excess perspiration. It is safer to take vitamin B because it is water soluable and the body gets rid of excess.

The safest way to treat iron-deficiency anemia is with proper diet. Here are some food sources: Liver, eggs, meat, green leafy veggies (sprinkle with lemon juice for best absorption), almonds, avocados, beets, molasses, dates, kelp, kidney beans, peaches, prunes, raisins, sesame seeds. Whole grains are a good source of B vitamins, as are beef, beans, eggs and most nuts.

Answer 2

Too Much Iron Supplement

Answer 3

How much you need: The RDA for iron in men of all ages and women over age 50 is 10 mg a day. For younger women, it's 15 mg daily (in pregnancy, 30 mg a day). To combat anemia, additional iron -- either through diet or supplements -- is typically needed for a period of weeks or months.

If you get too little: If you get too little iron in your diet or lose too much through heavy menstrual periods, stomach bleeding (commonly caused by arthritis drugs), or cancer, your body draws on its iron reserve. Initially, there are no symptoms, but as your iron supply dwindles, so does your body's ability to produce healthy red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia, marked by weakness, fatigue, paleness, breathlessness, palpitations, and increased susceptibility to infection.

If you get too much: Some studies link too much iron to an increased risk of chronic diseases, including heart disease and colon cancer. Excess iron can be particularly dangerous in adults with a genetic tendency to overabsorb it (hemochromatosis), and in children who are especially susceptible to iron overdose.


Warnings-
Never take an iron supplement unless you are following your doctor's recommendation. More than 1 million Americans have an inherited disease called hemochromatosis, which causes them to absorb too much iron, and most don't even know it. (Early symptoms include fatigue and aching joints.)

Taking iron on your own could also mask a cause of anemia, such as a bleeding ulcer, and prevent your doctor from making an early, lifesaving diagnosis.

Iron may make antacids, oral antibiotics, and cholesterol drugs less effective. Take iron supplements two hours before or after your other drugs.

Keep all supplements containing iron out of reach of children. Just five high-potency iron pills can kill a small child.

Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

Answer 4

Why not get tested to see if you are really anemic? No, I would not recommend you start a regimen of iron pills on your own. I have had plenty of times when I was feeling tired and irritable and my iron level was normal. Medications can also cause this so you might want to look into the side effects if you're taking anything.

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Answer 6

after taking that much for a couple of days, you will not be able to have a bowel movement.. you will be extemely irritable then, due to constipation. DO NOT TAKE IRON SUPPLEMENTS IF YOU ARE SMART

Answer 7

Iron is only good for women who menstruate and males who have been told to use it, otherwise Iron is a poison because there is no way for the body to get rid of it
STOP!!

Answer 8

I've stopped taking my multivitamins because of the calcium and iron in them. They make it nearly impossible to have a bowel movement. Constipation sucks.

Answer 9

that is a lot for you. pregnant women take around 28mg per day and that is 150% RDA. feeling tired and irritable could be anything.