Iron

Anemia or low iron is common in menstruating women whereas iron overload is common in postmenopausal women. Please test before starting an iron supplement and retest again later.

Sources:

• Meat - beef, lamb
• Seafood - oysters, clams, sardines
• Poultry - chicken, turkey
• Nuts - pistachios, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, hazelnuts
• Beans - white beans, lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas
• Vegetables - spinach, broccoli, mushrooms

Deficiency:

• Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include: fatigue, muscle cramps, restless legs, dizziness, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, headache, shortness of breath, insomnia, pale colour, concentration issues etc

Toxicity:

• Symptoms of iron overload include: fatigue, joint pain, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, potential blood sugar issues, potential liver issues, depression, concentration/cognition issues, etc

Uses:

• Is a key building block of hemoglobin. Its job is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
• Oxygenated tissues promote energy production.
• Is responsible for normal cellular functions such as growth, development, and repair.

Iron-related disease:

• Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition where individuals store excessive amounts of iron. Think of iron overload as rust inside your body; it's a severe condition.
• Thalassemia is another genetic disorder involving iron.  These individuals don’t make enough hemoglobin and many need transfusions to survive.

Medication interactions:

• Iron reduces the absorption of tetracyclines antibiotics. Do NOT take together.
• Iron reduces the absorption of Levodopa, Methyldopa, and carbidopa. Do NOT take together.
• Iron may interfere with Levothyroxine absorption, if needed take at a different time of the day.
• Proton pump inhibitors can cause low iron levels by stopping their absorption. Can take both but better at different times of the day.

Fun Fact:
Donating blood is the easiest way to reduce ferritin (stored iron) levels. Not only does it save your life, but it also saves the lives of three others too. Talk about a win-win situation.