Iron

What is Iron?

Iron is a major element that is present in the body.

Why is it needed?

It is part of haemoglobin, the part of the blood that carries oxygen round the body. It is involved in the production of thyroid hormones, in the production of connective tissue, production and regulation of various neurotransmitters and the maintenance of the immune system.

You can have too much iron in your body (refer to contraindications). There are also some reports, claiming high levels of iron can cause increased oxidative damage to the heart and blood vessels with an increased risk of oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

Where is it found?

It is found in liver, meats, beans, nuts, oysters, molasses, wine, dried fruit, poultry, fish, whole grains or enriched cereals and most dark green leafy vegetables.

What happens if you are deficient?

People who are deficient feel tired, this is because their bodies are starved of oxygen, as iron is present in every molecule of haemoglobin.

Iron is also part of myoglobin, which helps muscle-cells store oxygen. There is a fuel that the body runs on called ATP and if the body does not have enough iron, the ATP cannot be properly synthesised. This results again in fatigue.

Symptoms include fatigue, sluggishness, lack of concentration, sweating and dizziness, poor physical and mental performance.

What conditions has it been used to treat?

Primary:

Athletic performance
Coeliac disease (if deficient)
Crohn's disease
Iron-deficiency anaemia
Heavy menstruation

Secondary:

Mouth Ulcers
Infertility (female)
Restless Legs Syndrome (if deficient)

How much is normally taken?

If a deficiency is diagnosed then supplementation is essential, with a common dosage of 100mg given per day. Deficiency is not unusual and one of the commonest ways of losing iron is through heavy menstruation.

There are those who avoid salt and sea-vegetables and are also vegetarians but they are the only group of people that perhaps could do with taking 150 mcg per day.