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If you have iron-deficiency anaemia, you should take an iron supplement. But here’s an interesting pro-tip I share with my patients: don’t take it every day. A study found that taking an iron supplement every other day can optimise iron absorption – and may mitigate side effects such as nausea and constipation.
Pregnancy can cause low iron levels, but a supplement (and glass of orange juice) can help.Credit: iStock
Iron is an essential micronutrient that helps produce healthy red blood cells. People with an iron deficiency often feel exhausted. Some may find it hard to catch their breath or notice paler skin (though this may be less obvious among those with darker skin tones). Iron deficiency can also lead to a racing heart, headaches and odd cravings, such as for ice, chalk or clay.
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It’s normal to lose a small amount of the body’s iron stores through the skin or during menses. But you can develop a health problem called iron-deficiency anaemia (one of several forms of anaemia) if you lose more than you’re absorbing through your diet. Iron-deficiency anaemia is a condition in which red blood cells aren’t able to carry oxygen efficiently to the rest of the body. It is characterised by both low levels of iron and red blood cells and diagnosed with blood tests, including a complete blood count and an iron panel.
Young children, people who have heavy menses or are pregnant, and older people should be particularly vigilant. If you are feeling tired all the time, but have not been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anaemia, work with your physician to investigate other possible causes.
What causes low iron levels?
Pregnancy: During pregnancy, iron requirements multiply to support the mother and growing fetus (as if pregnant people needed another reason to feel exhausted), and so we screen for it routinely. Taking an iron supplement is safe during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Blood loss: Heavy bleeding during menses or from the gastrointestinal tract (which may not always be noticeable in your stool) both lead to iron depletion. Unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia is a common reason to get a colonoscopy because we don’t want to miss an important cause such as cancer.
Issues with iron absorption: Certain medical conditions make it hard to absorb iron from our gut – for instance, post-bariatric surgery, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease or gastritis (which becomes more common as we age). Depending on the condition, people may need intravenous iron instead of an oral supplement.
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