| nded Daily Allowance | | | | unnecessarily prolong the patient's suffering. This is |
| There is no one single daily recommended | | | | why it is important for anyone with these |
| allowance of iron for everyone at all stages of | | | | symptoms to go to a doctor for a blood test to |
| their lives. Because of this fact, many consumers | | | | obtain a proper diagnosis. Without a proper |
| may think that they should take the same | | | | diagnosis, there cannot be proper treatment. |
| amount of iron that they have always taken or | | | | What is Dietary Iron? |
| take the same amount as a friend or relative. | | | | Dietary iron is comprised of proteins and comes in |
| This may not be enough to suit their particular | | | | two types called heme (found in hemoglobin in the |
| nutritional needs — or it may be too much. | | | | blood) and non-heme (found in myoglobin, found in |
| Fortunately, there are many sources of dietary | | | | muscles and bones.) Dietary iron is marketed |
| iron and no withdrawal symptoms to if a patient | | | | under the name ferrous sulfate, which is easily |
| discovers that he or she is consuming too much | | | | available in multivitamin supplements or iron sulfate |
| iron. | | | | supplements. But it is also abundant in multiple |
| America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | | | | food sources. Vitamin C has been shown to help |
| publishes a chart breaking down the differences in | | | | the body absorb iron more efficiently, thus eating |
| the daily recommended dosage of iron: | | | | foods rich in vitamin C or taking vitamin C |
| *Males over 19: 8 milligrams | | | | supplements is highly recommended. |
| *Male vegetarians: 14 mg | | | | A common misconception is that meat is the |
| *Females 19 - 50: 18 mg | | | | superior source of iron from food. Larger |
| *Female vegetarians: 32 mg | | | | quantities of iron can be found in similar size |
| *Females over 50: 8 mg | | | | portions of porridge, oats and vitamin-fortified |
| *Pregnant women: 27 mg | | | | breakfast cereals. Iron may also be found in |
| *Nursing women: 10 mg | | | | many vegetables, milk, eggs, beans, nuts, whole |
| *Newborns to 6 months: 0.27 mg | | | | grains and some starchy foods such as grits. |
| *Babies 7 — 12 months: 11 mg | | | | Many meal replacement powders, liquids and bars |
| *Children 1 - 3 years: 7 mg | | | | contain iron. Some beverages such as tap water |
| *Children 4 — 8: 10 mg | | | | may also contain ferrous sulfate. |
| *Children 9 — 13: 8 mg | | | | Avoiding Iron Overdose |
| *Children 14 — 19: 10 mg | | | | The human body is not an efficient absorber of |
| This is only a rough guideline. Patients with | | | | iron. On average, the body only absorbs 10% of |
| particular illnesses, women with exceptionally | | | | the iron it consumes. But iron overload is possible |
| heavy periods, individuals with vitamin C | | | | and can bring debilitating symptoms. Clifford S. |
| deficiencies or individuals who habitually consume | | | | Spanierman, MD of Lutheran General Hospital and |
| beverages like tea that interfere with the body's | | | | a specialist in pediatrics and emergency medicine, |
| absorption may require a doctor to determine | | | | estimates iron toxicity to be a major factor in the |
| their daily levels. Some trial and error may be | | | | deaths of children under six years old. Dr. |
| needed. | | | | Spanierman speculates that children may take iron |
| Why Bother with Iron? | | | | supplements in the mistaken belief that they are |
| Iron performs several functions in the body. Most | | | | sweets. |
| importantly, it helps blood transport oxygen | | | | Symptoms of iron overdose are dramatic, often |
| throughout the body. This is why it can be found | | | | including copious amounts of diarrhea and vomiting. |
| in just about every cell of the human body. | | | | Dr. Spanierman reports that if a patient can stay |
| Oxygen and other chemicals help the cell absorb | | | | conscious and get to a hospital, the patient has an |
| glucose (blood sugar), the cell's fuel. Iron is also | | | | excellent chance of surviving. But if the patient |
| thought to play a significant role in the human | | | | becomes unconscious, the chances of recovery |
| immune system and in brain function. Although | | | | are very slim. In extreme cases, blood |
| very few individuals can attract a magnet, all | | | | transfusions are needed in order to quickly clean |
| healthy individuals have minute portions of iron in | | | | the excess iron from the body. Dr. Spanierman |
| their cells. | | | | added that women over 65 were also prone to |
| Patients with iron anemia (also called iron poor | | | | iron overdose because they were not aware that |
| blood) feel exhausted all the time, despite how | | | | their iron needs drop significantly after the |
| much sleep and exercise they obtain. Their skin is | | | | completion of menopause. |
| often pale or more pale than usual. They may | | | | A good general rule to avoid iron overdose is to |
| feel as if a weight is on their lungs and complain | | | | avoid taking an iron supplement if not instructed |
| of being faint or short of breath. Without the | | | | to by a physician. Because of the dangers of iron |
| proper amounts of oxygen traveling through the | | | | overdose, it is never a good idea to self-diagnose |
| bloodstream, the body does not have sufficient | | | | one's health problems. |
| energy to work at maximum efficiency. Life for | | | | Conclusion |
| the iron anemic is dreary and overwhelming | | | | Individuals can suffer if they do not have enough |
| because of the fatigue. It takes a tremendous | | | | iron or die if they consume too much. Iron is |
| effort to even accomplish simple tasks. | | | | easily available in the modern diet through natural |
| Symptoms of iron anemia are very similar to | | | | foods, nutritional supplements and iron-fortified |
| those of other chronic conditions such as clinical | | | | foods. Never guess as to the amount of iron to |
| depression and thyroid problems. Taking extra | | | | consume. |
| dietary iron will not help these conditions and will | | | | |