Anaemia/Iron deficiency

[loosebones]

Hi there, I've done a search for Iron related topics but not found anything.

I have a number of digestive problems, and have just found out that I'm anaemic and need to boost my iron. Are there foods that are good for this, or would I be better taking a supplement. I cannot risk constipation due to repeated intussusception. The only difficulty in eating certain foods is that I am lactose intolerant, Coeliac, and allergic to nuts

[John]

As you know you're anaemic it might be wise to take a supplement initially to replenish your iron reserves more quickly.

The Nutri Centre is a good source and they offer a wide range of iron products, at: http://www.nutricentre.com/s-64-iron.aspx

If you need further help with choosing a particular product, you can call one of the Nutri Centre's nutritionists on 0207 436 5122.

Adult males need at least 10 mg of iron daily, but a typical supplementary dose would be 25 mg of elemental iron taken twice daily with meals to avoid digestive upset. Taking 200 mg of vitamin C at the same time would further enhance absorption, but avoid taking calcium, magnesium or zinc along with iron because these other minerals compete for absorption sites. (This is why multi-mineral formulations are not a good source of iron.)

As you already have digestive problems, avoid ferrous sulphate, which is the inorganic metal which you will almost certainly be given if your GP writes you a prescription for iron. It's cheap, but it is not well absorbed, it's toxic and will irritate your intestine, and may also cause constipation. More or less any other form of iron is acceptable, with the citrate, gluconate, succinate and fumarate forms all being excellent.

As for food sources, animal products provide a more easily absorbed form of iron than plant sources, and red meat, organ meats (especially beef and chicken livers) and eggs are all excellent, followed by fish, pork and poultry. Good iron-yielding plants include lima beans, legumes, tofu, kelp, green leafy vegetables, whole grains and pumpkin. Brewer's yeast is also a good source, as are nuts - for those who can tolerate them.

Finally, it would be worth reading the following article, which looks at the importance of finding out the underlying cause of your anaemia: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/07/14/Little-Known-Secrets-about-Optimal-Iron-Levels.aspx

[bumblebee]

My problem is just the opposite - too much iron. Having a restricted diet owing to food intolerances, I naturally took an all round multivitamin/mineral(which included iron) every day. Two years ago, when I had a routine blood test, the GP called me in to say that I had too much iron in my blood and had to stop taking extra iron, which I immediately did.

The problem it leaves me with, however, is that I find it difficult to buy a multivitamin/mineral without iron that I can take - many of these tablets are just too enormous to swallow. I am then, now in the position where I take a daily multivitamin tablet but no multimineral supplement. Does anyone know of a multimineral tablet that does not contain iron and is not too large to swallow? I would be grateful for any suggestions.

bumblebee

[John]

Hi Bumblebee

There are several iron-free supplements (http://www.nutricentre.com/search.aspx?SearchTerm=no+iron) listed on the NutriCentre website, from companies such as Natures Plus and Higher Nature. Unfortunately, the NutriCentre site often fails to provide even basic information about products, but you can find out more by going to the websites of the manufacturers and/or talking to one of the NutriCentre's nutritionists on 0207 436 5122.

If you still can't find a suitable tablet that is small enough to swallow, you could buy a pill crusher. These come with or without a pill splitter, and the crusher device does exactly what it says - it grinds the tablet into a convenient powder which you can sprinkle onto food or into a drink. Here are a couple of examples:

https://www.homecraft-rolyan.com/app.aspx?cmd=get_item&id=17883 and

http://www.chestercare.com.au/searchContent.aspx?sid=1&search=pill%20crusher

If your iron level is still too high, you could reduce this by giving blood periodically.

[bumblebee]

Thanks for the reply John, and the advice - much appreciated and I shall follow it up.

bumblebee

[Micki]

Just for interest - people with allergies etc often can't absorb well so I recommend a liquid iron sometimes - Kirkman's from Nutricentre is a goodie.

[tcmbsmum]

Does anyone know if that liquid supplement called Floridix is really any good?

[Anne]

That one has been around for a long time - I was recommended it 30 years ago when I was pregnant and it certainly seemed to do the job then - if that is any help!