What Are The Side Effects Of Iron Supplements?

Iron is a mineral that helps with the transportation of oxygen around the body, and it is a major component of red blood cells. The nutrient also helps keep the skin, hair, and nails healthy. Patients who do not get enough iron in their diet may develop iron-deficiency anemia. This condition causes patients to feel fatigued, and they might also experience cold hands and feet, pale skin, brittle nails, headaches, and dizziness. Women who are pregnant or menstruating are at an increased risk of iron deficiency, and vegetarians have a higher prevalence of this condition compared to individuals who eat meat. Doctors can check a patient's iron levels with a simple blood test. If the results are low, patients might be encouraged to include more iron-rich foods such as spinach, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, meat, lentils, and tofu in their diets, and iron supplements may be prescribed. The supplements are generally taken for several months, and patients will be retested after this time to check whether their levels have returned to the normal range. To increase iron absorption, doctors recommend patients take their iron supplements with vitamin C. Patients might want to eat an orange or take a vitamin C supplement immediately after taking their iron supplement.