Iron Supplements for Vegans

6254 Views 12 Replies 6 Participants Last post by 121938, Nov 27, 2016

Tues

Discussion Starter · Nov 6, 2016

Awhile back my doctor had me start taking iron supplements, because I was slightly anemic. Blood test show that I am no longer anemic, but my doctor still wants me to take the iron supplements for now.

The Problem: Iron supplements that are certified vegan are very low mg (around 30mg) compared to what I take. I take three 65mg tablets daily. That's 195mg total. If I try taking a lower amount I go back to feeling exhausted which leads to me sleeping all day and I get brain fog. I cannot find a vegan iron supplement that has a higher dosage than 30mg.

I am currently taking Spring Valley Iron supplements. I don't know how to make the switch to certified vegan iron when I will have to take more pills meaning I will end up having to spend more money that I just don't have. So, my hope is that what I'm already taking happens to be vegan.

I'm still struggling to look up and learn what ingredients are okay for vegans to take. Honestly, I'm really upset right now that I may not be able to switch to vegan iron supplements if these aren't okay to take. I can't focus (even with my Adderall) on the descriptions of the items to figure out if the iron I am taking happens to be vegan.

Is there any chance these are vegan?

Ingredients: 65 Mg Iron 361% Dv. Ferrous Sulfate, Cellulose Gel, Dibasic Calcium Phosphate, Croscarmellose Sodium, Hydroxypropyl, Methylcellulose, Titanium Dioxide (Artificial Color), Magnesium Stearate, Polyethylene Glycol, Triethyl Citrate, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Citrate.

So, what's the verdict?

P.S. To everyone who reads this and offers advice, I want you to know I truly appreciate you taking your time to help me while I am upset and feeling like a lesser vegan.

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Avril

· #2 · Nov 6, 2016

My personal opinion is that you should relax! Even if you take in the occasional non-vegan thing unknowingly, don't lose sight of the big picture. The big picture is that you are doing so much more than the vast majority of people.

Is it possible that your iron supplements are vegan? Absolutely! Iron is a mineral. That other stuff listed is, as far as I know, all non-animal.

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Tues

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 6, 2016

Avril said:
My personal opinion is that you should relax! Even if you take in the occasional non-vegan thing unknowingly, don't lose sight of the big picture. The big picture is that you are doing so much more than the vast majority of people.

Is it possible that your iron supplements are vegan? Absolutely! Iron is a mineral. That other stuff listed is, as far as I know, all non-animal.

Thank you so much! Especially for your kind and encouraging words. I promise I will try to relax about it. I just tend to have a bit of an all or nothing personality when it comes to things I consider really important. Veganism is one of the biggest aspects of my life, so I don't want to feel like I let anybody down somehow.

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silva

· #4 · Nov 6, 2016 (Edited)

http://plenteousveg.com/iron-vegetarians/

I'm definitely of the mindset that if your health and well being rely on a medication you should take it, regardless/

Are you doing as much as you can with diet, cooking in cast iron, and avoiding things that interfere with iron absorption at the same time? If you are, I would calm down and take the best ones for your condition

http://www.nomeatathlete.com/iron-for-vegetarians/

Just to clarify-- you must have a condition that causes poor absorbtion? The RDA is less than 20mg for most people

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silva

· #5 · Nov 6, 2016

https://www.amazon.com/DEVA-VEGAN-V...472067&sr=8-12&keywords=vegan+iron+supplement
That seems like a good deal - two bottles of 90 tabs each, with B12.
I'd take with vitamin C for better absorption

Can you eat wheat?
I'm not low, but I do have fortified cream of wheat every few days. Be sure to get the one with 50% iron, they differ

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Tues

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 6, 2016

I'm not sure if I have a condition that causes my iron stores to stay low, but my doctor is really pleased I can handle the amount I can. I actually used to take those Deva Iron tablets, but ran out and was going through a period where I was so fatigued I was sleeping over a day, so I got these as an emergency choice. I'm pretty sure my doctor feels I'm on the borderline of some condition, but since the supplements are helping he's okay to just keep a casual eye on my blood work.

Yes, I can eat wheat. I have never had cream of wheat, but I am willing to try it. I will keep in mind to get the fortified one with 50% iron.

I am definitely eating foods high in iron, but I need to educate myself on what foods could interfere with absorption.
I'm not sure if I cook in cast iron or not. I rent a room at my parents house and use what they have, so I'll need to ask my mom which ones are what.

I hope I answered everything. I think I did.

I'll be sure to read the sites you linked for me, as well.

Thank you, silva.

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David3

· #7 · Nov 6, 2016 (Edited)

I second what Avril said. Even when practicing veganism, it is not possible to prevent violence 100%. Even organic produce is permitted to be grown with pesticides (insect poison), as long as the pesticides are not synthetically-derived: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_certification . Veganism serves to minimize violence, not to eliminate it completely.

Nevertheless, here are the verdicts on the ingredients in your iron supplement:

Iron (ferrous sulfate): This is a mineral, mined from the earth. Vegan.

Cellulose gel: The closest thing I found was "cellulose gum". The (vegan) Vegetarian Resource Group says this is vegan: http://www.vrg.org/ingredients/

Dibasic calcium phosphate: The Vegetarian Resource Group says this is vegan: http://www.vrg.org/ingredients/

Croscarmellose Sodiumis an internally cross-linked sodium carboxymethylcellulose. Carboxymethycellulose is made by reacting cellulose (plant fiber) with chloroacetic acid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carboxymethyl_cellulose . Chloroacetic acid is produced from either acetic acid (vinegar) or from trichloroethylene (made from petroleum-derived gas). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroethylene . Appears vegan.

Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose is an alternative to animal gelatin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypromellose . Appears vegan.

Titanium Dioxide: Derived from mineral ores: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanium_dioxide . Vegan.

Magnesium Stearate: The Vegetarian Resource Group states, "Although it is possible to derive magnesium stearate from animal fats, it is not standard practice today in the food industry and no examples of tallow-derived magnesium stearate in foods or pharmaceuticals are known." http://www.vrg.org/ingredients/

Polyethylene Glycol: Produced by interaction of ethylene oxide with water, ethylene glycol (same as your car's radiator fluid), or ethylene glycol oligomers. Ethylene compounds are produced from petroleum. Polyethylene glycol is a common ingredient in cosmetics and beverages, including my favorite drink, Dr. Pepper! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene_glycol . Appears vegan.

Triethyl Citrate: Derived from citric acid (produced from citrus fruits, certain molds, or synthetically made in a process starting with calcium salts): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citric_acid#Natural_occurrence_and_industrial_production . Appears vegan.

Polysorbate 80: May contain animal ingredient, but let's not stress out over a few milligrams of animal product, OK? Chances are, you drove over a couple of ants today: http://www.vrg.org/ingredients/

Sodium citrate: Made from sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), or from citric acid: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_citrate. Appears vegan.

I'd say this is 99.9% vegan, which is as good as you can get. Don't stress!

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David3

· #8 · Nov 6, 2016

Tues, may I ask what is your current height and weight? I hope you will forgive, but fatigue can be caused by being underweight (not eating enough calories).

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Tues

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 6, 2016

Wow, David! Thank you so much. I'm over here just struggling with to read the articles silva shared, because my ADD is really bad at the moment (I think all my built up anxiety over this has been making my ADD worse) and you were able to look all of those up for me. I truly, truly, truly appreciate it. It feels so nice to have people like you guys on my side, because I'm usually at war with myself over one thing or another. (Perfectionist tendencies.)

Thank you again, David.

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Tues

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 6, 2016 (Edited)

David3 said:
Tues, may I ask what is your current height and weight? I hope you will forgive, but fatigue can be caused by being underweight (not eating enough calories).

I don't know my weight at the moment, but I do know that I am considered underweight.

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silva

· #11 · Nov 6, 2016

@David3--I also thank you! I linked an ingredient site i've never used and apparently it's way more OCD than need be! Almost everything was listed as being 'both'!
I'm deleting that info because no one needs more stress!

I was usually borderline low on iron, sometimes told to supplement, when I ate meat. I ate red meat as an omni. When I went veg of course I was afraid it would turn lower, so I really amped up things like dark greens, fortified foods, having vit c with iron foods, no real tea or coffee with iron. About twice a week I'll have cream of wheat (farina) for breakfast. I like it with raisins and curry - thats kinda weird! I use a cast iron skillet for everything. It's heavy, and never sees water. It's basically stick free as long as it's hot before food, and uses just a coat of oil. Superb for giving a sear and carmelizing.
All these things must be working out because I'm always in the mid range since being veg'n

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Auxin

· #12 · Nov 9, 2016

Has anyone ever just knocked back a glass of water with pure ferrous sulfate dissolved in?
The taste might not be horrible and a years supply of 200mg per day vegan iron would just cost $9

I added it to a pot of red beans once and they turned steel grey, lol

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121938

· #13 · Nov 27, 2016 (Edited)

Doesn't eating something with Vitamin C help your body absorb iron? Something to remember there and like someone mentioned cast iron pans so if you make spaghetti sauce in a cast iron pan, the acidic tomatoes leeches iron out of the pan and tomatoes have vitamin c. So you'd be touching all bases with that one. Good luck on feeling better.

(ps don't forget to be supplementing with B12 - SUPER IMPORTANT!)

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