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Does Si everyday deplete iron/stores in the body

WorkingProgress profile image
18 Replies

Asking the above question as there are so many views on this. Here is a link so you can see what I mean.

theironmaiden.ca/vitamin-b1...

My fatigue and fast heart beat are an issue and was wondering if Iron was an issue. It was fine six months or so ago on my bloods as was my ferritin.

Thank you all for your thoughts.

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WorkingProgress
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18 Replies
palmier profile image
palmier

I think it's only initially after starting b12 treatment that the body may use more iron to build new blood cells.

2FloorLuka profile image
2FloorLuka

Well, due to the damage caused by PA in my stomach lining (lack of acidity) i am on permanent Iron replacement therapy. If i stop my Iron tablets, i will be anaemic all over again in few months. And it takes very long to build up my stores.I don't know about the others, but Iron and folic acid are definitely big issues for me. I need daily maintenance dosages.

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden in reply to 2FloorLuka

Yup, common problem.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

I never had any problems with iron until I got b12 deficiency ifab/ neg PA My ferritin levels dropped enough yo give me extra symotoms .

I need need a small maintenence dose of iron .

Gp tests my bloods regularly and prescribes iron.

So must be sn absorbtion problem along with b12

So far folate has been okay .

Vit D very low before low b12 tested .

Di take vit D daiky too

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator

If you have a B12 absorption problem it can also affect absorption of other vitamins and minerals such as iron, leading deficiencies in those minerals. Really not convinced by the response on the link on excess B12 leading to iron deficiency - mechanism doesn't appear right. B12 deficiency does affect red blood cell production leading to macrocytic anaemia but the mechanism in operation is mediation in the replication of DNA/RNA and I don't see how that gets related to the production of haemoglobin.

WorkingProgress profile image
WorkingProgress in reply to Gambit62

Right so it may well be a case of poor absorption in the stomach. I wear transdermal patches with iron bisglycinate in them so hopefully some will get in that way as I can not tolerate iron pills at all

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply to WorkingProgress

absorption in the stomach is more likely to be problem. Honestly I don't know about the efficacy of patches for iron.

WorkingProgress profile image
WorkingProgress in reply to Gambit62

Right so no point of iron supplements if stomach Absorption is a problem. Infusion time.

2FloorLuka profile image
2FloorLuka in reply to WorkingProgress

Why don't you try iron injections/infusions? My doctor prescribed me iron infusions, but as i don't have any side effects with tablets, i am ok with my treatment.

Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator in reply to WorkingProgress

An absorption problem means lower absorption of vitamins and minerals, not no absorption so oral is effective for iron but you might need higher doses for it to be effective and that can have other consequences for the gut as it can affect the micro-organisms living in your gut and change the mix.

WorkingProgress profile image
WorkingProgress in reply to Gambit62

Yep I am currently working with a naturopath to heal my gut slowly and rid my body of heavy metals etc. It's a slow process. I am hoping absorption problems and wellbeing will improve in time. It is a very bumpy ride at the moment. It's also funny how everything now is being labelled as chronic fatigue, ME or anxiety.

waveylines profile image
waveylines in reply to WorkingProgress

Yes ME/CFS is the go to diagnosis am afraid......saves their brainpower! I was diagnosed with that too and then everything gets blamed on it. I didn't have it. I had hypothyroidism and extremely low vit D, with a B12 that slowly decreased despite an excellant diet. Im not saying ME/CFS doesnt exist -just that I was mis-diagnosed.

WorkingProgress profile image
WorkingProgress in reply to waveylines

Yep. I clearly know this is not the case of CFS/ME for me. I still haven't booked my appointment to go through the pollava of seeing the relevant department as treatment is pointless and at the moment I am poorly again. Plus covid is not helping either. It is very doubtful they will give me any B12 so I will continue with my own supplies. Plus the fight and futility with doctors/specialists adhering to guidelines (which they have to), is both draining and frustrating.

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden

I'm really short of time now (I'll try to write again later) but there are several flaws in the article and the reply to it.

I can take iron bisglycinate supplements but for me they only put in a background level and I can have shed loads and still have iron deficiency symptoms.

I do not seem to be able to convert the iron found in supplements to haem iron in my blood and I have to get it from red meat and fish.

(My pancreas is atrophied so I have to take digestive enzymes to digest [anything] enough to enable me to extract and absorb the haem iron.)

FlipperTD profile image
FlipperTD

Scientist, not medic.

If you're B12 deficient and suffering from macrocytic anaemia, once you start B12 replacement therapy, you will make new red cells that need iron.

[One millilitre of red cells contain 1 milligram of iron.]

If you're sufficiently anaemic to require 1 litre of 'new red cells' to get back to where you should be, then that's going to require about a gram of iron, which is a considerable amount. If you have reduced stomach acidity then your absorption of iron is likely to be impaired, so your stores might already be borderline.

Your body is very good at recycling iron. As old red cells are broken down, the iron is scavenged and stored. The Globin chains of haemoglobin likewise are stored and the amino acids recycled. Only if your body is losing blood [and it doesn't take much on a regular basis] or you're lactating, does your body tend to need much extra iron. Iron deficiency isn't a 'disease' as such; it's a symptom of something else.

So, in summary, having rambled along as usual, fixing your B12 status, if you're anaemic, will consume some of your body iron stores. It's not unusual to see someone with a macrocytic anaemia get treatment, recover, and then slide into iron deficiency and a microcytic anaemia. That's why it's a good idea to make sure your treatment has some medical supervision, just to be on the safe side.

WorkingProgress profile image
WorkingProgress in reply to FlipperTD

Thank you I am working on it. The GP route is a struggle especially the last couple of years.

earthnymph profile image
earthnymph

Hi, it sounds like you need iron for different reasons than I do, so this may not be relevant. I was anaemic 50% of the time for a lot of years (around 25-30 years) and no matter how much iron I supplemented, I just couldn’t get on top of the anaemia properly. It was only when PA was found and I eventually started SI every 2 days, then weekly (the GPS 8-weekly wasn’t enough), that I finally got my iron levels up. I haven’t had to supplement iron for around 6 years now. B12 (hydroxocobalamin) sorted out my anaemia as well as my pernicious anaemia. My understanding may be limited, I think that when we have enough b12 in our systems we can absorb iron better, but maybe not everyone if there are other conditions.Good luck with it all x

Stayfocussed profile image
Stayfocussed

I heard that b12 uses up iron to be processed there by causing iron deficiency

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