Could iron deficiency be the cause of your fatigue and lack of energy?

You may be iron deficient.

Iron Deficiency and Anemia — Could they be the cause of your fatigue and low stamina?
The United Nations World Health Organization states that iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutritional disorder in the world, affecting over 20% of the global population¹. Anemia results from insufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood, which reduces the amount of oxygen that can be delivered to the body’s organs, leading to decreased energy levels and other symptoms. The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency².

While anemia can be diagnosed by measuring red blood cell and hemoglobin levels in the blood, many people with iron deficiency are not anemic and suffer undiagnosed (see “Determining an Iron Deficiency”). Iron deficiency is more common in developing countries, but it is also observed in North America in certain populations, such as women of childbearing age. Approximately 12% of women aged 20-49 suffer from iron deficiency, with higher rates observed in Latin American and African American populations³. Other at-risk groups include First Nations and Indo-Canadians, vegans, and long-distance runners⁸.

Premenopausal women are the group most likely to suffer from iron deficiency. Iron losses during menstruation leave approximately 25% of premenopausal women iron deficient. Increased iron demand during pregnancy and breastfeeding also causes iron deficiency. In adult men and postmenopausal women, the cause of iron deficiency can be serious: two-thirds of the time, the cause is gastrointestinal bleeding⁴.

Typical symptoms of iron deficiency include:
• fatigue;
• weakness;
• reduced endurance;
• headaches;
• dizziness and fainting;
• low blood pressure;
• pale lips and eyelids;
• loss of libido;
• cold extremities;
• weakened immune system.

These symptoms appear because the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to major 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 capacity and attention span, while also causing irritability⁶.

Causes of Iron Deficiency
• Gastrointestinal bleeding
• Genitourinary bleeding
• Menstruation
• Repeated blood donations
• Growth
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Deficient diet
• Intestinal malabsorption
• Internal parasites
• Gastric surgery

Source: Handbook of Nutrition and Food, CRC Press*

Iron Supplementation – What are the options?
One way to address the effects of iron deficiency and anemia is to take iron supplements. The most common forms of iron in dietary supplements are ferrous fumarate, ferrous D-gluconate, ferrous sulfate, iron(III) hydroxide polymaltose, iron choline citrate, and ferric citrate. All these forms of iron are absorbed at different rates and cause various side effects, such as various gastric problems (cramping, constipation, and stomach upset). Some iron supplements can also interact negatively with other nutritional supplements and medications. It is important to choose a safe and effective iron supplement to combat 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 correcting 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 interfere with iron absorption.

Published studies by world-renowned researchers have consistently shown that Ferrochel® is more bioavailable than other forms of iron (see chart). A study of anemic children found that Ferrochel® had an apparent absorption rate of 70% to 75%, which is 3.7 times higher than commonly prescribed ferrous sulfate⁶.*

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% of adolescents taking ferrous sulfate complained of gastric side effects (gastrointestinal upset, constipation, and occasional diarrhea). No adolescent taking 30 mg of Ferrochel® complained of side effects⁷.*

Iron Safety Concerns – Short and Long Term
Toxicological studies on Ferrochel® were conducted at the University of Utah. The studies compared the safety of Ferrochel® with that of ferrous sulfate. Taking into account the increased absorption of Ferrochel®, it was estimated to be nearly ten times safer than ferrous sulfate¹⁰.

Another issue related to iron supplements is the long-term safety of the ingested product. Ferrochel® was evaluated in a multi-generational study on pigs. These pigs were fed 500 mg of Ferrochel® per day for four generations of offspring. 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, strong 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 factors, 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 greater than that of inorganic iron because it does not cause the chemical reactions normally associated with iron salts¹².*

Iron Testing – Determining an Iron Deficiency
If you believe you are experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency, you should ask your healthcare professional to conduct further tests.

Diagnosis of iron deficiency — Laboratory tests to detect iron deficiency should be based on clinical suspicion, not on the presence of anemia. In the early stages, iron deficiency can exist without overt anemia, but with non-hematological symptoms.

• Serum ferritin is the best diagnostic test for iron deficiency. A ferritin level below 15 µg/L in adults and 12 µg/L in children indicates iron deficiency. These thresholds cover most cases of iron deficiency; however, deficiency can occur at normally low levels.
  • Ferritin measurements may not be reliable in patients with acute or chronic inflammation, malignancy, or liver or kidney disease. Patients with persistently high serum ferritin levels without chronic inflammatory disorder 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 taking 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.

Health First® Iron Supreme
Iron Supreme capsules are designed to increase blood iron levels effectively and safely without uncomfortable side effects. Iron Supreme contributes to the formation of red blood cells and their proper functioning, as well as the prevention of iron deficiency.

• Contains patented Ferrochel® (ferrous bisglycinate).
  • Absorbed more easily than other forms of iron (clinically proven).
  • Better tolerated by the body than other forms of iron (clinically proven).
  • Non-constipating product.
  • Formulated 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 that it is an extract.