How to Supplement Iron

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By R. Reichert
eHow Contributing Writer

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Iron is vital for good health, but sometimes the body is unable to build up enough iron in order to achieve optimum health levels. This results in a condition known as anemia. Symptoms associated with an iron deficiency include extreme fatigue, malaise, vertigo, extreme headaches, irritability, a pale complexion, difficulty breathing, concentration difficulties, the sensation of being cold all the time and restless leg syndrome. Thankfully, there are some simple methods for you to supplement iron in your body.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Medical evaluation
Vitamin supplement with Iron
Eggs
Liver
Figs
Prunes
Spinach

Step 1

Visit the doctor, and have your blood count assessed to determine if you are iron deficient. Follow your doctor's instructions and take any iron supplement provided as directed.
Step 2

Take a daily vitamin supplement with iron once a day; this is often enough to give you the necessary iron supplementation you need. Choose a supplement that is specifically designed to meet the needs of your gender such as a vitamin supplement for women or for men with iron because iron needs vary for men and women.
Step 3

Consume more dark green leafy vegetables, spinach, prunes, figs, liver and eggs because they are iron-enriched foods that will help keep your iron levels up.
Step 4

Consume the additional iron supplement provided to you by a gynecologist if you are pregnant. Studies have shown that pregnant women often develop problems with anemia because of rapid bodily changes. See the gynecologist if you are having problems with excessive menstrual bleeding or long periods; the latter issues can cause problems with iron retention.
Step 5

Stop using products such as antacids, which can affect your ability to properly absorb iron supplements.

Tips & Warnings

If you have Crohn's disease, or if you have recently had surgery on the intestinal area, have your iron levels checked. The conditions might contribute to poor nutritional absorption, which can then lead to a problem with iron deficiency. Sometimes internal bleeding causes a problem with iron loss; internal bleeding can be caused by a variety of conditions including colon cancer, ulcers that bleed, the formation of polyps in the colon, the continual use of pain medicine and aspirin, or bleeding in the urinary tract as the result of an infection. Visit a doctor if you suspect such conditions exist to remedy the issue immediately. Recommended daily allowances of an iron supplement for men older than 19 is about 10 mg; for women older than 19 and women who are breastfeeding, the appropriate supplement is 15 mg, and for a pregnant woman the appropriate vitamin supplementation to take daily is 30 mg.
Do not consume more than 45 mg of iron a day because it can lead to iron toxicity. If iron levels reach 350 to 500 micrograms-dL in the blood, such levels are toxic, and if levels exceed 1,000 micrograms-dL, this suggests that an individual is suffering from poisoning from excessive iron levels. Symptoms associated with the development of iron toxicity include a loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sudden weight loss, respiratory difficulty and a graying of the complexion. If you suspect iron toxicity, contact the poison control center or your physician immediately.