Are You in Need of an Iron Vitamin Supplement?

Does your diet include enough iron? Iron plays several important roles in the body, and deficiency can have serious ramifications.

Iron helps to form the protein hemoglobin within red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout the body and results in the subsequent conversion of nutrients into energy. Iron also helps form myoglobin, another protein involved in the supply of oxygen to the muscles. It is a component of the connective tissue protein collagen, which is also present in bone and cartilage. Iron is a key ingredient in many enzymes and helps support overall health by helping the body maintain a strong immune system.

Causes and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

An iron deficiency can occur when not enough iron is consumed in the diet or maintained within body stores. An inadequate quantity of blood cells can occur as the result of injury or hemorrhaging. A reduction in blood cell production can also cause a deficiency. Anemia refers to an insufficient quantity of blood cells within the body.

Iron deficiency may be signaled by unexplained excessive fatigue or persistent listlessness. In addition to feeling weak or tired, individuals may experience:

• Dizziness or faintness


• Shortness of breath


• Poor concentration or attention span


• Soreness on the tongue or corners of the mouth

Except in cases of severe malnourishment, it is uncommon for an iron deficiency to occur as the result of lack of dietary intake. Several groups of individuals are however at risk, and are likely to be advised by their doctors to consume an iron vitamin supplement daily.

Increasing Iron Intake During Pregnancy

Pregnant women need significantly higher amounts of iron throughout their pregnancy for several reasons. Pregnancy increases the volume of blood within the body by as much as half. Additional iron is needed to produce the additional hemoglobin this demands. Furthermore, the placenta as well as the developing fetus requires additional iron. The amount of iron required climbs from 18 mg. per day prior to pregnancy to 27 mg after conception. Dietary intake alone cannot generally provide women with the extra iron their pregnancy requires.

The Value of an Iron Supplement for Vegetarians

Vegetarians are another group at risk for an iron deficiency. Iron is most readily absorbed by the body from meat sources rather than vegetables, legumes or grains. Red meat, poultry, eggs and fish may all be off-limits to vegetarians. There are several ways vegetarians can increase their absorption of iron from the foods they do consume, including eating fruits or vegetables high in vitamin C. Avoiding coffee, tea and high calcium foods or beverages during meals is another way to promote iron absorption, as is cooking in cast iron cookware.

Extra Iron During Growth

Children and teens that are finicky eaters or fail to consume a wide variety of meats, vegetables and grains may also benefit from an iron vitamin supplement. During growth the volume of blood within the body expands, and extra iron is required in increasing amounts, too.

Tests can determine iron deficiency, so if you think you are deficient it is important to seek medical treatment rather than self-diagnosing. If a deficiency is occurring, your doctor can help determine the cause and remedy the problem in the safest, most effective way.