How many mg of iron if anemic

The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements explains that ferrous fumarate contains 33 percent of elemental iron by weight, compared to 20 percent in ferrous sulfate and 12 percent in ferrous gluconate. Common side effects of iron pills include diarrhea, constipation and nausea.

According to the Mayo Clinic , some people may also experience chills, chest pain, dizziness, headaches, a metallic taste in their mouth, abdominal cramps and an increased heartbeat. Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends taking iron supplements on an empty stomach to increase absorption. However, this can worsen the gastrointestinal side effects, so some people prefer to take their iron supplements with a snack or a small meal.

You should avoid taking them with milk, calcium supplements, antacids or caffeine because this can make the iron supplements less effective. If iron supplements for anemia cause long-lasting side effects, you can speak with your doctor about trying a different form of iron. Some iron pills are available in "gentle" or "slow-release" forms, which may be easier on your stomach and make you less likely to experience diarrhea or constipation.

Nutrition Nutrition Basics Vitamins and Supplements. By Nina Bahadur Updated July 31, Reviewed by Sylvie Tremblay, MSc. Sylvie Tremblay, MSc. Sylvie Tremblay holds a Master of Science in molecular and cellular biology, and has years of experience as a cancer researcher and geneticist. Nina Bahadur. One gram of hemoglobin contains 3.

Bleeding is the most common cause of iron deficiency in the UnitedStates and Europe. Iron deficiency caused solely by diet is uncommon in adults in countries where meat is an important part of the diet. In countries where little meat is consumed, iron deficiency anemia is six to eight times more prevalent than in the UnitedStates and Europe. This occurs despite consumption of a diet that contains an equivalent amount of total dietary iron, because heme iron is absorbed better from the diet than nonheme iron.

In certain geographic areas, intestinal parasites, particularly hookworm, worsen iron deficiency due to blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract. Anemia is more profound among children and premenopausal women in these environs. Because the average woman eats less than the average man does, she must be more than twice as efficient in absorbing dietary iron in order to maintain equilibrium and avoid developing iron deficiency anemia.

A woman loses about mg of iron with each pregnancy. Menstrual iron loss is highly variable, ranging from 10 to mL mg of iron per period. Menstrual iron loss doubles the need for women to absorb iron, compared with men. Healthy men lose body iron in sloughed epithelium, in secretions from the skin and gut lining, and from small, daily loss of blood from the gastrointestinal tract 0.

Men with severe siderosis from blood transfusions can lose a maximum of 4 mg daily via these routes without additional blood loss. Healthy newborn infants have a total body iron level of mg 80 ppm , which is obtained from maternal sources.

Infants consuming cow's milk have a greater incidence of iron deficiency, because bovine milk has a higher concentration of calcium, which competes with iron for absorption. Subsequently, growing children must obtain approximately 0. Prolonged achlorhydria may produce iron deficiency because acidic conditions are required to release ferric iron from food.

Then, it can be chelated with mucins and other substances e. In chronic iron deficiency anemia, the cellular indices show a microcytic and hypochromic erythropoiesis; both the mean corpuscular volume MCV and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration MCHC have values below the normal range for the laboratory performing the test.

If a CBC is obtained after blood loss, the cellular indices do not enter the abnormal range until most of the erythrocytes produced before the bleeding are destroyed at the end of their normal lifespan days. Examination of the peripheral smear is an important part of the workup of patients with anemia. The microcytosis is apparent in the smear long before the MCV is decreased following an event that produces iron deficiency.

Platelets are usually increased in this disorder. A bone marrow aspirate can be used to diagnose iron deficiency. The absence of stainable iron in a bone marrow aspirate that contains spicules and the presence of stainable iron in a simultaneous control specimen permit establishment of a diagnosis of iron deficiency without other laboratory tests. Other laboratory tests are useful to establish the etiology of iron deficiency anemia and to exclude or establish a diagnosis of one of the other microcytic anemias.

Pharmacotherapy Iron therapy without pursuit of the cause of iron deficiency is a poor practice. The response to treatment is assessed by serial hemoglobin measurements until normal red blood cell values are achieved. Hemoglobin rises slightly for two weeks, then rises by 0. The normal range is 3. Normally, anemia should be corrected within two months.

A subnormal response suggests continued hemorrhage, underlying infection or malignancy, insufficient intake of iron, or very rarely, malabsorption of oral iron. The most sensitive and specific criterion for iron-deficient erythropoiesis, however, is absent marrow stores of iron, although a bone marrow examination is rarely needed.

During iron therapy, the anemia and iron panels need to be monitored. Iron supplements are used to provide adequate iron for hemoglobin synthesis and to replenish body stores of iron. Recommended dosages of iron are administered prophylactically during pregnancy due to anticipated requirements of the fetus and iron loss that occurs during delivery. Oral Iron Products The most economical and effective medication in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia is oral ferrous iron salts.

Among the various iron salts, ferrous sulfate is used most commonly. However, claims have been made that other iron salts are absorbed better and have less morbidity. If the quantity of iron in the test dose is decreased, the percentage of the test dose absorbed is increased, but the quantity of iron absorbed is diminished. Iron can be provided by various iron salts e. It is important to find out why you are anemic and treat the cause as well as the symptoms. If you find that you are interested in learning more about blood diseases and disorders, here are a few other resources that may be of some help:.

Search Blood , the official journal of ASH, for the results of the latest blood research. While recent articles generally require a subscriber login, patients interested in viewing an access-controlled article in Blood may obtain a copy by e-mailing a request to the Blood Publishing Office. Agenda for Nematology Research. About Us. Precision Medicine. Genome Editing and Gene Therapy. Immunologic Treatment. Research Support and Funding.

Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Am I at Risk? The following groups of people are at highest risk for iron-deficiency anemia: Women who menstruate, particularly if menstrual periods are heavy Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or those who have recently given birth People who have undergone major surgery or physical trauma People with gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease sprue , inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis, or Crohn disease People with peptic ulcer disease People who have undergone bariatric procedures, especially gastric bypass operations Vegetarians, vegans, and other people whose diets do not include iron-rich foods Iron from vegetables, even those that are iron-rich, is not absorbed as well as iron from meat, poultry, and fish.

Children who drink more than 16 to 24 ounces a day of cow's milk Cow's milk not only contains little iron, but it can also decrease absorption of iron and irritate the intestinal lining causing chronic blood loss. Other less common causes of iron deficiency include: Blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract due to gastritis inflammation of the stomach , esophagitis inflammation of the esophagus , ulcers in the stomach or bowel, hemorrhoids, angiodysplasia leaky blood vessels similar to varicose veins in the gastrointestinal tract , infections such as diverticulitis, or tumors in the esophagus, stomach, small bowel, or colon Blood loss from chronic nosebleeds Blood loss from the kidneys or bladder Frequent blood donations Intravascular hemolysis, a condition in which red blood cells break down in the blood stream, releasing iron that is then lost in the urine.

This sometimes occurs in people who engage in vigorous exercise, particularly jogging. This can cause trauma to small blood vessels in the feet, so called "march hematuria. Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are related to decreased oxygen delivery to the entire body and may include: Being pale or having yellow "sallow" skin Unexplained fatigue or lack of energy Shortness of breath or chest pain, especially with activity Unexplained generalized weakness Rapid heartbeat Pounding or "whooshing" in the ears Headache, especially with activity Craving for ice or clay - "picophagia" Sore or smooth tongue Brittle nails or hair loss How Is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Diagnosed?

In an individual who is anemic from iron deficiency, these tests usually show the following results: Low hemoglobin Hg and hematocrit Hct Low mean cellular volume MCV Low ferritin Low serum iron FE High transferrin or total iron-binding capacity TIBC Low iron saturation The peripheral smear or blood slide may show small, oval-shaped cells with pale centers.

But continue taking a higher dose if advised to by a GP. Page last reviewed: 03 August Next review due: 03 August Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Good sources of iron Good sources of iron include: liver but avoid this during pregnancy red meat beans, such as red kidney beans, edamame beans and chickpeas nuts dried fruit — such as dried apricots fortified breakfast cereals soy bean flour How much iron do I need?