Iron supplement

[Slugger61]

Which is better? Iron with sulfate or iron with gluconate? Do you have any suggestions or personal experience or opinions regarding this?

[JohnInTheMiddle]

Didn't we discuss this before? Iron supplements for men are dangerous. And the appearance of anemia is only that, an artifact of metastatic prostate cancer. And supplements won't help. And if there's an issue it can't be solved by iron supplements.

[Tall_Allen]

Do you have iron deficiency in your bloodwork (not just anemia)?

[RazorSaw]

OP should clarify his question better before we have the opportunity to answer. Why is he asking?

[Slugger61 in reply to RazorSaw]

Ferritin levels are good. RBC, HGB , HCT are just below borderline. Not anemia. Iron deficiency...yes

[Brad70]

You should use Iron Bisgylcinate. Take every other day for us that are old and sick.

[dave2]

You said your ferritin levels are good. That would suggest an iron supplement may be inappropriate. But I would also do a full iron panel, including serum iron, transferrin saturation and total iron binding-binding capacity to get a complete picture. Then get your doctor to help interpret these results.

[Slugger61 in reply to dave2]

Thank you. I will talk to doctor about getting a complete iron panels

[chefjlu]

As someone who has dealt with anemia from my birth, there is a lot to look at. However, supplements for men are a problem. If you are on ADT absorption can become difficult for iron, B12, as well as a couple other nutrients. For the 2 years I was fully on ADT I was bouncing on all the levels you posted, except Ferritin which remained okay. I have mentioned before 2 factors I discovered years back - I am AB+ blood type. This blood type has been shown to produce lower amounts of gastric acid, there by lowering absorption of some nutrients. I adopted a "Blue Zones" lifestyle - very plant forward, low meat (especially red meat). In consultation with an Oncologist Dietitian it was recommended to increase a bit my consumption of red meat (lean). Also, when consuming plant based iron foods to make sure I was eating food with vitamin C as this improves absorption of Non-Heme iron. That's the big part - Heme iron is found in meat mainly (especially red meat) - Non-Heme is found in plants (spinach and greens). Your body prefers Heme iron for easy absorption. Spinach and greens give great levels of iron, but cooked is easier to extract the iron, and vitamin C increases the absorption. It brought things in line, even though it was right on the "line" so to speak. I am now a bit over 8 months off ADT and my levels have all come into the "good" range. Understand that too much iron (men require much less than women before menopause) gets stored in the liver impairing its function. It can lead to cirrhosis, diabetes, and even heart failure among other things. ---- Full blood work will determine the need for a supplement, very unlikely unlike you have a genetic condition, and will be fully directed and monitored by a doctor.

[timotur in reply to chefjlu]

Very informative, thank you. I've been borderline anemic with high homocysteine (10.3) since ADT/radiation six years ago. Started a B12 supplement, and eating beef liver, and RBC's rose to low-normal range. Will try some spinach smoothies with oranges for some extra iron.

[RoseDoc]

The gluconate is better tolerated, less GI affects. However, unless you are iron deficient, there is no reason for you to be taking an iron supplement. Anemia does not = iron deficiency.

[Slugger61 in reply to RoseDoc]

Thank you. Most responses are all leaning more towards not taking the iron.supplement . Makes sense not to create another problem.

[j-o-h-n]

Always remember that Iron can rust and that rust never sleeps.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Slugger61 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Hey hey my my