- How to take and for how long
- Types of iron supplements
- Possible side effects
- In addition, it is also very important to eat an iron-rich diet. Watch the following video and learn what food to do to fight anemia:
Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common types of anemia, which is caused by a deficiency in iron that can occur due to low consumption of foods with iron, loss of iron in the blood or due to a low absorption of this metal by the body.
In these cases, it is necessary to replace iron with supplementation and a diet rich in iron and only in the most severe cases is it necessary to do blood transfusion.
How to take and for how long
The recommended dose of iron supplements and the duration of treatment varies according to the age and severity of the anemia, but usually the recommended dosage of elemental iron is:
- Adults: 120 mg of iron; Children: 3 to 5 mg of iron / kg / day, not exceeding 60 mg / day; Babies from 6 months to 1 year: 1 mg of iron / kg / day; Pregnant women: 30-60 mg of iron + 400 mcg of folic acid; Breastfeeding women: 40 mg of iron.
Ideally, the iron supplement should be taken with a citrus fruit, such as orange, pineapple or mandarin, to enhance iron absorption.
To cure iron deficiency anemia, it takes at least 3 months of iron supplementation, until the body's iron stores are replenished. Therefore, it is recommended to have a new blood test 3 months after starting treatment.
Types of iron supplements
Iron in elemental form is an unstable metal that oxidizes easily and that is why it is usually found in the form of complexes such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate or iron hydroxide, for example, which make iron more stable. In addition, some supplements can also be found in liposomes, which are a kind of capsules formed by a lipid bilayer, which prevent it from reacting with other substances.
They all contain the same type of iron, however, they may have a different bioavailability, which means that they are absorbed or interact with food differently. In addition, some complexes may have more side effects than others, especially at the gastrointestinal level.
Oral iron supplements are available in various doses, in tablets or in solution and depending on the dose, you may need a prescription to obtain them, however you should always talk to your doctor before deciding to take an iron supplement, to choose the most appropriate for each situation.
The best known supplement is ferrous sulfate, which should be taken on an empty stomach, because it interacts with some foods and can cause side effects such as nausea and heartburn, but there are others that can be taken together with meals, such as ferrous gluconate, in which iron is linked to two amino acids that prevent it from reacting with food and other substances, making it more bioavailable and with fewer side effects.
There are also supplements that contain iron associated with other substances such as folic acid and vitamin B12, which are also very important vitamins to fight anemia.
Possible side effects
Side effects vary depending on the type of iron complex used, the most common being:
- Heartburn and burning in the stomach; Nausea and vomiting; Metallic taste in the mouth; Feeling of full stomach; Dark stools; Diarrhea or constipation.
Nausea and gastric discomfort may increase with the dose of the drug, and usually occur 30 to 60 minutes after taking the supplement, but may disappear after the first 3 days of treatment.
To reduce constipation caused by the medication, you should increase the consumption of fiber present in fruits and vegetables, do physical activity and, if possible, take the supplement with meals. See What to do to combat constipation.
In addition, it is also very important to eat an iron-rich diet. Watch the following video and learn what food to do to fight anemia:
The most commonly used iron supplements to fight anemia are ferrous sulfate, Noripurum, Hemo-Ferr and Neutrofer, which in addition to iron may contain folic acid and vitamin B12, which also help in fighting anemia.
Iron supplementation varies according to the age and severity of the anemia, and should be done according to medical advice. Usually the use of iron supplements causes problems such as heartburn, nausea and constipation, but which can be alleviated with simple strategies.
