Could it be the cause of your fatigue and lack of vigor?
You may be iron deficient.
Iron Deficiency & Anemia—Could They Be Causing Your Fatigue & Lack of Endurance?
The United Nations World Health Organization states that iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutritional disorder in the world, affecting more than 20 percent of the world’s population1. Anemia is the result of insufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, which reduces the amount of oxygen that can be distributed to the body’s organs resulting in lowered energy and other symptoms. The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency2.
While anemia can be diagnosed by measuring red blood cell and hemoglobin content in the blood, many people who are iron deficient are not anemic and suffer undiagnosed. Iron deficiency is more common in developing countries, but it is also seen in North America in certain populations, such as women of childbearing age. Approximately 12 percent of women 20–49 years of age suffer from iron deficiency with higher deficiency rates occurring in Hispanic and African-American populations3. Other at-risk groups are First Nations and Indo-Canadians, vegans, and long-distance runners8.
Premenopausal women are the group most likely to suffer from iron deficiency. Iron loss during menstruation leaves approximately 25 percent of premenopausal women suffering from iron deficiency. Increased iron demands during pregnancy and lactation also cause iron deficiency. In adult males and postmenopausal women, the cause of iron deficiency can be serious; two-thirds of the time the cause is gastrointestinal bleeding4.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency include:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Reduced endurance
- Headaches
- Dizziness and fainting
- Low blood pressure
- Pale lips and eyelids
- Loss of libido
- Coldness in extremities
- Weakened immune system
These symptoms occur because the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to vital organs (heart, lungs, and kidneys), forcing them to work too hard. The symptoms are even more acute in children, where iron deficiency can reduce learning ability and attention span, while also causing irritability6.
Causes of Iron Deficiency
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Genitourinary bleeding
- Menstruation
- Repeated blood donation
- Growth
- Pregnancy & Lactation
- Inadequate diet
- Intestinal malabsorption
- Internal parasites
- Gastric surgery
Source: Handbook of Nutrition and Food, CRC Press*
Iron Supplementation—What are the Options?
One way to deal with the effects of iron deficiency and anemia is through iron supplementation. The most common forms of iron in supplements are ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate, iron polymaltose, ferric choline citrate and ferrous citrate. All of these forms of iron are absorbed at different rates and cause varying side effects, such as various gastric problems (cramps, constipation, and gastric upset). Some iron supplements can also interact negatively with other nutrient supplements and medications. It is important to choose a safe and effective iron supplement to counteract iron deficiency.
One possible iron supplement is Ferrochel®, a patented form of chelated iron (ferrous bisglycinate) that is easily absorbed by the body and safe for long-term use.
Iron Absorption—How to Get the Iron Your Body Needs Without Side Effects?
A key to overcoming iron deficiency is finding an iron supplement that is bioavailable and absorbable.
Ferrochel®, a patented chelated iron (ferrous bisglycinate), is a form of iron that, like heme iron (chelated or protein-bound iron), is not affected by dietary factors that can inhibit iron absorption.
Published studies by well-known researchers around the world have consistently shown that Ferrochel® is more bioavailable than other forms of iron (see chart at right). One study conducted with anemic children found that Ferrochel® had an apparent absorption rate of 70–75 percent, which was 3.7 times higher than that of ferrous sulfate, which is commonly prescribed6.*
In an experimental group treated with 30 mg of Ferrochel®, the product restored hemoglobin in anemic adolescents to the same level as in a group treated with 120 mg of ferrous sulfate. Even more importantly, 32 percent of the adolescents taking ferrous sulfate complained of gastric side effects (gastrointestinal upsets, constipation, and occasional diarrhea). No adolescent taking 30 mg of Ferrochel® complained of side effects7.*
Iron Safety Concerns—Short- and Long-Term
Toxicology studies have been conducted on Ferrochel® at the University of Utah. The studies compared the safety of Ferrochel® with that of ferrous sulfate. When considering the increased absorption of Ferrochel®, it was estimated to be nearly ten times safer than ferrous sulfate10.
Another issue with iron supplements is the long-term safety of the ingested product. Ferrochel® was evaluated in a multigenerational study of pigs. The pigs received 500 mg of Ferrochel® daily in their diet for four generations of offspring. The researchers who examined the animals detected no biochemical, physiological, or histological changes in them compared to normal pigs. Histochemical analysis found no abnormal accumulation of hemosiderin, meaning there was no evidence of excessive iron accumulation in the animals’ tissues. This proves that even at a high dose of 500 mg/day, Ferrochel® chelated iron can be metabolized, powerful evidence of its low toxicity and long-term safety11.*
The overall safety offered by Ferrochel® may be a function of its unique patented chemistry, which allows the body to process this form of iron more easily and efficiently than other forms of iron. Ferrochel® is preferentially absorbed in the jejunum, and then somewhat in the duodenum. Iron salts are primarily absorbed in the duodenum. The absorption of Ferrochel® is not inhibited by dietary elements such as phytates, phosphates, other metals, phenols, and tannins, which generally reduce the absorption of iron salts. The movement of Ferrochel® from the lumen to the mucosal cells is several times faster and more significant than that of inorganic iron because it does not trigger the chemical reactions normally associated with iron salts12.*
Iron Tests—Determining Iron Deficiency
If you believe you are exhibiting symptoms of iron deficiency, you should ask your healthcare professional to conduct further tests.
Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency—Laboratory tests for iron deficiency should be based on clinical suspicion and not on the presence of anemia. In the early stages, iron deficiency may exist without overt anemia but with non-hematological symptoms.
- Serum ferritin is the best diagnostic test for iron deficiency. Ferritin levels below 15 µg/L in adults and 12 µg/L in children indicate iron deficiency. These thresholds cover most cases of iron deficiency; however, deficiency can appear at normally low levels.
• Ferritin measurements may not be reliable in patients with acute or chronic inflammation, malignancy, or liver or kidney disease. Patients who show persistently high serum ferritin levels without chronic inflammatory disease should be tested for iron overload8.*
Defining Iron Doses to Treat Anemia
How much iron do you need to treat an iron deficiency? The British Columbia Medical Association recommends ingesting 180 mg of elemental iron per day to replenish iron stores. Anemia can be cured in 2 to 4 months, and therapy should continue for 4 to 6 months or until your doctor observes serum ferritin levels of 50 µg/L in the blood8.
Iron Supreme from Health First®
Iron Supreme capsules are designed to increase blood iron levels effectively and safely, without uncomfortable side effects. Iron Supreme participates in the formation of red blood cells and their proper functioning, as well as in the prevention of iron deficiency.
Contains patented Ferrochel® (ferrous bisglycinate).- More easily absorbed than other forms of iron (clinically proven).
- Better tolerated by the body than other forms of iron (clinically proven).
- Non-constipating product.
- Prepared with a complex of vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B12, other important B vitamins, minerals, and plant extracts designed to facilitate iron absorption.
- Easy-to-swallow vegetable capsule.
- Suitable for vegetarians.
References:
1. Albion Research Notes. December 1993. Volume 2, No 6. “Iron Treatment Failure”.
2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anemia.html
3. Albion Research Notes. December 1993. Volume 2, No 6. “Iron Treatment Failure”.
4. Albion Research Notes. February 2003. Volume 12, No 1. “The Iron Conundrum”. Table 1.
5. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/anemia/page3_em.htm
6. Albion Research Notes. February 1996. Volume 5, No 1. “Research on Ferrochel”.
7.Albion Research Notes. July 1992. Volume 1, No 1. “Study Shows Ferrochel Superior to Salts”.
8. British Columbia Medical Association. “Investigation and Management of Iron Deficiency.” 2004.
9. Albion Research Notes. February 1996. Volume 5, No 1. “The Trouble With Iron”.
10. Albion Research Notes. February 1996. Volume 5, No 1. “Ferrochel – Higher Margin of Safety Against Overdose.”
11. Albion Research Notes. February 1996. Volume 5, No 1. “Safety In Long Term Usage”.
12. Albion Research Notes. February 1996. Volume 5, No 1. “Safety By Nature”.
* Indicates an excerpt.