Anemia

[tjpoppop]

Has anyone been dealing with anemia low iron? I am 57 diagnosed with P D 2 years ago.Also diabetic,previous blood work has been normal.Is anyone using iron supplements I am starting with 325 mg.Fatigue is an issue.thanks

[marion11005]

If you have suddenly gone from normal to anemic, you may need to see an internal medicine Dr. Don't just assume it's related to PD. That's a serious change.

[JonCR]

Do you drink a lot of milk?

Do you eat meat?

Changes in iron could suggest internal bleeding (ulcer) or poor absorption due to digestive issues or disease. Certainly include you doctor in this.

Also get your ferritin levels checked along with your RBC...do this every four weeks while taking iron. You need to see if you are moving the needle in taking supplements and you do not want too high of iron levels as it becomes toxic to the liver.

[JonCR]

As an FYI...I was diagnosed with PD a year ago. I have had minor anemia in the past. In also recently getting RLS I read that 20% of all RLS cases are due to low iron. I had my ferritin levels checked and I discovered that I was almost below range. I have been supplementing (2 weeks), but I have not checked my ferritin levels again yet. My RLS has gone away however.

[JonCR]

And, if you have any desire to slow or perhaps stop PD progression...

Read up:

forum.parkinson.org/index.p...

And more here...

reverseyoungparkinsons.com

Built on latest research science and not hype...worked for me. Could work for you...

TUDCA

[Hidden]

UDCA failed in controlling liver histology, or symptoms, in a dose of 13–15 mg/kg/day [191,192]. In a higher dose of 28–30 mg/kg/day, UDCA resulted in more than double fold increase in patient deaths, and need for liver transplantation. There is an exceptionally narrow difference between recommended dose and detrimental dose of UDCA in primary sclerosing cholangitis [13,26]

Meta-analyses of four randomized clinical trials randomizing 279 patients could not find significant differences regarding mortality or improvement in liver function tests observed after treatment with UDCA. Data on the radiological and histological responses were too scant to draw any definite conclusions [208]. High dose UDCA failed to improve the overall histology in 185 patients with NASH in comparison with placebo [209].

UDCA, is of unproven effectiveness in cholestasis, acute or chronic liver disease, colorectal carcinoma, and has specific molecular toxicity. It freezes regeneration and induces cellular hibernation. No case control double blind trial has demonstrated its true curative effects in any liver disease.

Despite high hopes and tremendous expenditure, space and chance for UDCA to effect, it does not go beyond “cellular freezing”, and arrest of cellular regeneration.

[Foibilist]

I have had dangerously low ferritin over past few years. Have infusion every year or so. See hemotoligist.

[paddyfields]

Have your B12 level checked. Low levels can be the cause of a serious form of anaemia and also in the long term (how long I don't know) cause neurologivcal symptoms similar to those of PD.

[michaela13]

I thought iron is supposed to be detrimental to Parkinson' s.

[lempa_nik]

Hi Tippopop,

I hope your variety of anemia has been specifically identified by a medical doctor. Please be very careful not to take too much elemental iron. Here is useful info from Wikipedia's article on "Iron Poisoning" :

"Toxic dosage

The amount of iron ingested may give a clue to potential toxicity. The therapeutic dose for iron deficiency anemia is 3–6 mg/kg/day. Toxic effects begin to occur at doses above 10–20 mg/kg of elemental iron. Ingestions of more than 50 mg/kg of elemental iron are associated with severe toxicity.[9]

A 325-mg tablet of ferrous sulfate has 65 mg (20%) of elemental iron

A 325-mg tablet of ferrous gluconate has 39 mg (12%) of elemental iron

A 325-mg tablet of ferrous fumarate has 107.25 mg (33%) of elemental iron

In terms of blood values, iron levels above 350-500 µg/dL are considered toxic, and levels over 1000 µg/dL indicate severe iron poisoning.[10] "

When you say you are starting off with 325mg/day, I am hoping that you mean the whole tablet, and not the amount of elemental iron within it. WebMD advises never to exceed 45 mg/day (elemental iron), a limit MUCH MORE conservative than what Wikipedia is suggesting:

" Take iron supplements with a full glass of water or food. Strict vegetarians may need to take in higher levels of iron.

At high doses, iron is toxic. For adults and children ages 14 and up, the upper limit -- the highest dose that can be taken safely -- is 45 mg a day. Children under 14 should not take more than 40 mg a day."

I noticed uneasily that the dosage you get with all three of the 325 mg tablets above either exceeds 45 mg, or comes perilously close. So , unless your doctor can reassure you otherwise, please be cautious, and stay alert for any signs of iron toxicity, such as , for example, stomach pain.

(CAVEAT: I am not an M.D. The preceding is only my 2 cents.)