Iron

[Uk Girl]

What is the reasoning behind a multivitamin without iron?


My GP has put me on a liquid iron supplement - due to very low iron!!

[Elizellen]

Re: Iron

I think Dr Atkins assumed that if we were eating mainly red meat which the Atkins WOE allows if we wish then we would not need the extra iron most multivitamins include.

Personally I dont eat red meat at all (or only infrequently) but I do look at the RDA of vitamins section of my fitday account from time to time to make sure I am getting the recommended dose.

From http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/irondeficiency/

Foods containing iron
Red meat is the richest source of iron. The iron in animal sources is absorbed easily by the body.

There is also iron in pulses (such as lentils and beans), dried fruit, green leafy vegetables, nuts and seeds, and in fortified breakfast cereals. The iron in these foods is not so easily absorbed by the body.

If your doctor is prescribing extra iron then you should take it, but keep getting your levels checked so if your way of eating changes things you can discuss altering the done if needed.

I found an interesting article discussing iron 'overdose' http://www.vitamins-nutrition.org/vi...-overdose.html which includes this statement

Men and postmenopausal women don't need the 18 milligrams of iron in most multivitamin/mineral supplements. Unless your doctor says you're low in iron, look for a brand with zero milligrams

.

[Uk Girl]

Re: Iron

Thank You very much!


I actually only eat red meat about once a week - I usually have fish for lunch and chicken for dinner.

The iron supplement is a 10 day course - have had to have it in the past when I was pregnant.

Thanks again
anj

[gonnabskinny]

Re: Iron

The other reason for no iron is because in too great of quantity it can lead to constipation. I can attest to this personally. I was taking Centrum with Iron and was actually overdosing on iron. I had to switch to Centrum Silver which does not contain iron. Reducing the iron and adding magnesium helped alleviate that issue.