[chiaraluna]

I've been trying to figure out exactly what is the ceiling to the amount of iron one should consume in a day. The recommended daily dose is 10-20 mg, and I've found all sorts of information on why taking too much iron should be avoided, but I'm finding it hard to find a specific maximum. According to FitDay, I'm consuming 26 mg a day, largely (I suspect) because of the iron-containing multi I'm taking. I don't think that that amount is too much, but I'd still feel better if I knew for sure.

 

[Tweety]

I would go with the 10 to 20. The 10 is for men and post-menapausal females. I read somewhere 15 for pre-menapausal women. As you are female and 19, your needs are probably 15-20 because menstration causes blood loss and thus loss of iron. This is important because iron tends to stay in the system, which is why it's easy to overload on iron. It's even recommended men give blood once a month, and take iron-less supplements.<br><br><br><br>
Most females need to worry about getting enough iron, so I wouldn't worry.<br><br><br><br>
This website here has some good information. Read about iron absorbtion because although your food contains the iron there might be a question as to whether or not your body is absorbing all of it.<br><br><br><br><a href="http://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/iron.htm" target="_blank">http://health.rutgers.edu/factsheets/iron.htm</a>

 

[Lothar M Kirsch]

The body regulates quite a lot, if you need more, the body absorbs more of the iron you ingest.<br><br>
I agree with Tweety, don't worry. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[gas4]

Do worry! I'm female, I've been taking supplements since going veg, and when I went to the doctor to make sure I was getting enough the tests came back that I was getting too much. And I read somewhere that the symptoms of too much and too little are much the same.<br><br><br><br>
I would recommend getting a blood test, then you'll know for sure. I always thought that I could just take supplements and I wouldn't absorb what I didn't need but that's just not the case. I've stopped taking them now and will go back for another blood test next week. The consequences of too much iron can be serious.<br><br><br><br><a href="http://womenshealth.about.com/od/commonhealthissues/a/ironoverload.htm" target="_blank">http://womenshealth.about.com/od/com...onoverload.htm</a>

 

[chiaraluna]

Thank you, gas4! I think that I may just start getting a multi without iron... According to my FitDay, I'm averaging 40 mg/day, which I think is a little excessive. Most of it is from my diet (I do love my Raisin Bran), so I think that taking away the supplementation would probably be wise.

 

[Tweety]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>chiaraluna</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Thank you, gas4! I think that I may just start getting a multi without iron... According to my FitDay, I'm averaging 40 mg/day, which I think is a little excessive. Most of it is from my diet (I do love my Raisin Bran), so I think that taking away the supplementation would probably be wise.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><br><br>
Yes, 40 mg is a bit much. Earlier you said 26, which for a vegetarian young female may not be cause for too much concern.<br><br><br><br>
Sounds like you can get enough from dietary sources and don't need the supplement. There are iron-free supplements. I use one myself.<br><br><br><br>
Good luck.

 

[Lothar M Kirsch]

Like Tweety said, 40 mg might more than be enough. It depends on your iron status. And I also agree on the iron free multi.<br><br>
For others: to take an iron supplement should be considered if the iron pool is drained. No need for supplements in people with a normal iron pool (best measured with ferritin). Iron is very aggressive and too much iron causes the development of free radicals.

 

[chiaraluna]

It shot up since I started eating Raisin Bran every day.<br><br>
The brand I get provides 60% of recommended daily iron... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/inquisitive.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":stinkeye:"><br><br><br><br>
I'm not willing to give up the cereal, so I'll get a new multi!

 

[Jill]

Since going veg, I started feeling really tired and fatigue all the time, and wanted to take naps during the day. My friend suggested taking iron supplements, so I got some, and started out taking one every day, and felt completely better almost instantly. Now I usually take one supplement every few days or so, enough to keep myself feeling well. The ones I take are 65mg.

 

[Tweety]

Jill, it's usually not a good idea to take an Iron supplement without an MD's advice.<br><br><br><br>
If you do in fact have an iron deficiency anemia causing your symptoms you should be diagnosed by an MD. I'm glad you're feeling better.

 

[gas4]

Yeah I think I get a lot of iron from my cereal as well. I'd still recommend an iron test Chiaraluna, just to be safe. All it is is a blood test.

 

[chiaraluna]

I just donated blood, and I know that they test cholesterol and send it... Not sure what else they test, but if iron isn't one of those things I'll definitely look into getting tested. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[ketivnilloc]

iron is one of those things

 

[Lothar M Kirsch]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Tweety</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
Jill, it's usually not a good idea to take an Iron supplement without an MD's advice.<br><br><br><br>
If you do in fact have causing your symptoms you should be diagnosed by an MD. I'm glad you're feeling better.</div>
</div>
<br>
But let me tell you, lots of GPs forget what they learned in medical school, they treat lab changes (low iron count) instead of diseases (iron deficiency). So, be ask, what the reason for iron substitution is, before you swallow it. If you're deficient in iron and/or suffer from an iron deficiency anemia then it's a great idea. If inflammation, infection, hematological diseases are the cause of your low iron count then it might be the wrong idea.

 

[gaya]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Lothar M Kirsch</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
But let me tell you, lots of GPs forget what they learned in medical school, they treat lab changes (low iron count) instead of diseases (iron deficiency). So, be ask, what the reason for iron substitution is, before you swallow it. If you're deficient in iron and/or suffer from an iron deficiency anemia then it's a great idea. If inflammation, infection, hematological diseases are the cause of your low iron count then it might be the wrong idea.</div>
</div>
<br>
Lothar, can you explain the relationship between low iron status and inflammation? I noticed that most of the females (in some class i had last year) with low iron status also had high(er) inflammation numbers. They were all meat eaters btw.

 

[Lothar M Kirsch]

As iron is aggressive the body reduces the iron free iron, which you can measure as iron count in your blood. The iron is put in the iron storage, which can be tested with the ferritin count. In the late 60ies there was the Biafra catastrophe with babies and infants dying of starvation, those who got iron enriched baby formulas had a higher rate of deaths from infectious diseases. So in inflammation the body does something which is helpful in coping with inflammation. The body doesn't distinguish the forms of inflammation, so infectious as well as rheumatic, autoimmune diseases, and others like cancer lead to the same response.<br><br>
So, lower iron count in inflammation does mean the iron is gone, it's still in the body but not available for the time being.