Running low on iron

[spinela7]

I have been put on Ferrous Sulphate but I can’t use it. My blood test for ferritin is 44 ug/L & it is only that high because I ate red meat I did do in desperation because the test last year was 10ug/L. I am vegetarian & I have great difficulty eating meat it seems to be hard to process for me.

Anyhow I had my cholesterol back it’s 6.9mmol/L

They said normal but on looking at my print outs it’s not.

So my need to stop the red meat & get on a good iron tablet is what I now need one that is gluten free.

My GP has said a statin but I have had my cholesterol at 6.8mmol/L before & have brought it back down to normal level .

My need now is to not eat any red meat again which I don’t enjoy anyway so I won’t miss it.

I have seen on here an iron tablet that was one called Three feathers or Swords but three something.

I would like to know the name & also how well others n Mmm au have found this iron supplement.

Any help given is very much appreciated.

[Technoid]

You don't need animal meat for iron. In fact, heme iron is better avoided but I'm vegan so I would say that 😁

Some good sources are mentioned here:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=QUZaV...(Not working as expected?)

Dairy products are very low in or absent of iron, if you get a lot of calories from them it will make it harder to get enough iron overall. I haven't consumed meat or dairy for almost 20 years and I've never been iron deficient, even with a after-meal coffee habit 😅

If you have PA, (thats what this forum is about), reduced stomach acid can make it harder to absorb iron and supplementation may be needed even if your diet has sufficient iron.

[Orchard33]

Three Arrows heme iron has been transformational for me. The chemical ferrous compounds prescribed by the NHS give me a painful gut. Three Arrows are in the US. There is a heme iron tablet (rather than capsule) from Sweden available from Amazon. Heme iron is produced from bovine spleen.

[DiNL in reply to Orchard33]

Yes same here. 3 arrows heme iron has done wonders for me

[helvella]

Ferrous sulphate is far from the only form of iron that can be prescribed in the UK. Though there is great reluctance to actually prescribe most of them.

There are several which can be bought without prescription.

The link below has much more information including some details about Three Arrows.

Few UK medicines contain gluten. And, of those which declare that they do have traces, the majority state that the levels are low enough not to cause a problem even ion those with coeliac disease. Somewhat oddly, Strepsils contribute a large number!

products.mhra.gov.uk/search...

Technoid is very right that there are food sources which can be sufficient.

Don't panic about cholesterol. But do consider whether you could have a thyroid issue which very often causes raised cholesterol.

helvella - Iron Document

This is a summary of what I have read up and found out about iron supplements over the past few years. I am not in any way medically trained. You are strongly encouraged to check every detail before making any decisions for yourself.

Last updated 02/04/2024

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Orchard33 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for your comments and the blog. Very informative.

[GoneWithTheWind1972]

Any thoughts to having an iron infusion? With my PA and Crohn’s disease diagnosis an iron infusion every two to three years is sufficient to keep my iron levels at the optimum level. Any tablet/capsule form upsets my gut. Just a suggestion.🩷

[spinela7 in reply to GoneWithTheWind1972]

Hi Gone WithTheWind

Thank you for contacting me,

I haven’t thought about a transfusion but having Crohns Disease & PA that would be such a positive thing for you to be able to have .

My GP only suggested tablets but some iron tablets can be difficult to take & it’s a struggle keeping my levels up.

So I am looking forward to trying the Gentle Iron by Solgar which has been suggested by a few people here.

Thank you for contacting me take care

[phoenix80]

I think you're thinking of 3 Arrows heme iron. Definitely worth a try to see if you tolerate it. It's a heme iron from the US, there are some heme iron supplements you can get in the UK as well.

I also couldn't tolerate some non heme iron supplements, but did quite well with ferrous fumerate which I got on prescription. Might be worth a try

[spinela7 in reply to phoenix80]

Hi phoenix thank you for contacting me.

I am sorry to be late getting back to you.

Yes it was 3 Arrows heme iron but I knew very little about the supplements.

I have decided to try the Solgar tablets there are a lot of people that use Solgar all positive .

I will keep in mind your ferrous fumerate as a stand by.

I hope you have been able to get your levels up & they have stayed up with little maintenance.

Thank you for contacting me take care.

[phoenix80 in reply to spinela7]

Yes definitely worth a try, I've heard good things about those as well. My levels are higher than they were and going up, so just persevere until you find one that you can tolerate

[spinela7 in reply to phoenix80]

Hi Phoenix

Great to hear from you.

I am so pleased for you with your iron levels & still going up well done.

Yes perseverance.

[FlipperTD]

Scientist, not medic.

A registered dietitian would be a good place to start for advice about dietary iron.

Vegans and vegetarians do face more of a challenge maintaining adequate iron levels, and iron deficiency is a major problem World-wide.

It's easy to be taken in by product labelling, but just because something lists iron in its contents it doesn't mean it's easily utilised and absorbed, which is why a dietitian is useful.

Remember that iron deficiency is a symptom of something else, not a disease in itself. Take care not to overdo it if you find something that works, because 'too much' tends to be worse than 'not enough'.

Good luck!

[spinela7 in reply to FlipperTD]

Thank you Flipper for contacting me.

I agree a dietician is good advice especially help with vegans & vegetarians just so much researching.

The advice I get from Healthunlocked though is tried & tested for me they are the ones I ask first.

I do check contents lists & then recheck then research.

Yes there is a reason why we are low in iron for me I can’t keep the levels up at all always a bit anaemic.I feel my body is not absorbing iron & I don’t know why.

Thank you for telling me about too much iron intake I would hate to make things worse for myself.

I always take small doses of anything food etc just to see what my body feels.

Thank you for contacting me much appreciated.

[FlipperTD in reply to spinela7]

Hi Spinela.

You seem to know exactly where you're coming from. Iron tablets have been one of the most common causes of fatal toxicity in children when they get their hands on 'mum's iron tablets'. Overdose in kids doesn't need much; in adults it takes more, but if the transport threshold is exceeded, then the dreaded 'free radicals' are there to cause horrible problems. We're designed to absorb iron, but we don't have an inbuilt system to get rid of any excess, because iron is comparatively scarce in the environment.

Good luck!

[FlipperTD in reply to spinela7]

Oh, I forgot to mention, a big plus vote for Registered Dietitians. They're a group of highly qualified professionals, who are registered by the HCPC. It's a protected title, so you know what you're getting. Absolutely anyone can advise you on diet regardless, but Dietitians are actually qualified to do so. Adopting the title without being a registered, qualified dietitian is a serious offence.

As an ex-HCPC registered professional, I do have to 'big them up'!

[spinela7 in reply to FlipperTD]

I have been to 4 Dieticians with the NHS & all were lovely helpful & knowledgable women.

I have picked up many things from them in conversation but it can take months to see one.

When you speak with Healthunlocked you are speaking to people who have experienced health problems have most likely been to dieticians as well they have been there health wise they also know stuff!

Thank you for contacting me take care.

[FlipperTD in reply to spinela7]

I didn't even suggest that access to one of my favourites would be quick or simple! But they're very good. I am more cautious about some of the 'nutritionists' who don't have the same registration process, but many will be very good.

Everyone will try to help.

Good luck.

[LizWilsonpa]

Hi. I had a consultation about Vit B12 deficiency with Dr Klein at The Iron Clinic. My level is 60 so quite good for me - but he (and others) recommend at least 100. He advised me to use Gentle Iron 20mg daily - available from Holland and Barrett. On a seminar he suggested take with orange juice. I was using ferrous fumerate with Vit C supplement - helpful except for stomach issues.

[KBird01 in reply to LizWilsonpa]

I also use gentle iron as it's vegetarian. I find this easy to take. It does need to be taken apart from tea/coffee/dairy tho. I usually take it first thing on morning on an empty stomach, then don't have any tea/coffee/food for a couple of hours.

[spinela7 in reply to KBird01]

Thank you for replying much appreciated

Is the gentle iron a water or is it a brown liquid

I have always wanted to try the vegetarian liquid but it contained something my body can’t take and it is so full of nutrients.

I will have to look at this product and see if it contains what I can’t have to make sure I am not saying no to something I can actually have .

You are able to keep your levels up by taking it daily.

Thank you again Kbird for contacting me.

Take care

Spinela

[LizWilsonpa in reply to spinela7]

Hi. The Gentle Iron is a tablet. You may be thinking of Floradix - that’s a brown liquid. Hope you find something that works for you.

[spinela7 in reply to LizWilsonpa]

Hi LizWilson

Ooops I did think Gentle Iron was liquid I can see a light at the end of the tunnel for upping my iron here.

Thank you for enlightening me on that.

[KBird01 in reply to spinela7]

Hi,

Sorry for the delay in replying. Looks like you've had useful responses already from helvella and LizWilsonpa , but just to reiterate, Gentle Iron is Iron Biglycinate. I use the Solgar brand, but other brands are available. The liquid you're thinking of is probably the Floradix type stuff, which I believe is very low dose.

My understanding is the Gentle iron dose is the equivalent to the elemental iron content - e.g. a 20mg Solgar capsule is equivalent to 20mg elemental iron. I believe this form of iron is already 'chelated', so available for your body to use, so doesn't require the use of vitamin C to help your body absorb it.

I've had no side effects, apart from feeling slightly nauseous shortly after taking them, which is probably due to taking them on an empty stomach first thing on a morning. This quickly goes away with a glass of water or a cup of herbal tea though. There's some research suggesting taking a dose every other day is at least as effective as every day, but this isn't conclusive.

The main thing from my research is to take the iron on a morning, on an empty stomach, which is at least 2 hours after, or 1 hour before eating. Also to try not to have any food with calcium, or tea/coffee, etc in that time either.

Good luck with it all. I know personally how debilitating low iron symptoms can be! 😊

[spinela7 in reply to KBird01]

Hi KBird

Thank you for contacting me again that’s really sweet of you.

Yes,I have been spoilt with help as I knew that I would be from health unlocked a very special group of people.

I was meant to be going out to H&B & also a health food shop but no energy will try again tomorrow.

Iam glad to see you had no issues with the Solgar & no need for Vit C it has no gluten & dairy free it has a lot of pluses going for it.

Also taking a dose every other day may also be a good thing for the body to take iron slowly.

So many people have mentioned Gentle Iron it must be very good.

Thank you again & take care of yourself KBird.

[spinela7 in reply to LizWilsonpa]

Thank you for contacting me.

Yes they do like the iron to be over 100.

I think my body has a problem absorbing iron.

I will go to Holland & Barrett tomorrow & research the gentle iron water.

I would be very happy in getting my iron to sixty as well.

Thank you again much appreciated.

Take care

[helvella in reply to LizWilsonpa]

Is Gentle Iron anything other than a name for a patented Ferrous Bisglycinate?

Iron

(as iron bisglycinate chelate†)

solgar.com/products/gentle-...

Though dosage seems to sometimes be 20 milligrams, sometimes 25.

As the iron is already bound to glycine, I'm not convinced that vitamin C is helpful for absorption of this form of iron.

ADDING

"GENTLE IRON" is a USA Trade Mark owned by SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.

tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=...

It is not a legal trade mark in the UK, so far as I can see.

[spinela7 in reply to helvella]

Thank you for contacting me

Wow what stores of information you have at your fingertips Helvella.

It was a pharmacist who told me about bisglycinate but could give no other details other than to ask your GP to research for you.

Thank you I will investigate this further today .

Thank you again for contacting me.

[LizWilsonpa in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvella - sorry for the delay - yes it is the product you describe. Thanks for the info about Vitamin C.

[Bertiepuss]

I have gone from ferritin of 8ug/l last September to 104 as of mid June. I'm vegan so really didn't want to consider haem iron so stuck with non-haem and have got on very well with iron bisglycinate from Avvalabs. I found after a while Ferrous fumarate gave me stomach pains but the Avvalabs one has been fine. It's a case of tying different ones until you find one that suits you. I take it on an empty stomach, away from food and supplements by at least an hour or ideally 2 with extra acerola cherry vitamin c to help absorption. I did have to take a high dose to reach 100 and kept testing myself several times along the way with a full iron panel to make sure I wasn't overdoing it as iron can be toxic if your system can't transport it to the correct places. I also had to deal with my very heavy periods and make every effort to eat iron rich veggies/beans at both main meals of the day. The liquid or spray irons were not high enough of a dose for me personally but then I was very low to begin with. They also turned my teeth brown! Others have not had this problem.

[spinela7 in reply to Bertiepuss]

Thank you for replying Bertiepuss.

Your level went very low but you have actually got it over 100 well done I have never achieved that.

You must be very pleased with 104 ug & feel good in your health.

Low iron is exhausting no energy at all.

I have just recently heard about having bisglycinate in an iron tablet.

It is kind to the stomach no irritation constipation so it was one I needed more info on so thank you that.

Keep well Bertiepuss let’s hope I can achieve the level you did 104ug.

Spinela

[Bertiepuss in reply to spinela7]

I still don't feel great to be honest, but with so many symptoms it's been hard to know what is related to the iron deficiency (I was anaemic in September too) and what is down to other things. I am perusing other diagnostic avenues too but it's seems getting the iron piece of the puzzle in place was a place to start.

I have been iron deficient all my life, never with a level above 30 so I don't expect a miracle cure now I'm at 100. My GP never told me all these years and it's only recently looking back on historic tests I can see how bad it was. I found a test from when I was 7 when I was also anaemic but my Mother said she was never told. I think the body will need many months of a consistent ferritin level to start to repair and turn on functions that have probably been turned off for a very long time.

By the way, my husband is also vegan, he is not iron deficient yet has exactly the same diet as me. There are many reason for becoming deficient and as Technoid said, you can get plenty of iron from a non-meat diet it just takes a little more planning. But, it's important to work out what is your personal cause for the deficiency and deal with it. It's not just about taking supplements and hoping something good will happen. I'm sure you know this 😊

[spinela7 in reply to Bertiepuss]

Hi Bertiepuss

I agree with you it’s finding the root cause.

I know my thyroid is too low & GP aware I test again in 8weeks. My new levo only comes in 100mg & cutting a wafer tablet into quarters is never going to be precise. I agree getting the ferritin level up is your first piece of the jigsaw, you have started Bertiepuss that was a big puzzle piece you placed on the board your body can heal, but do pat yourself on the back for laying that big foundation piece 104ug top marks.

You give me inspiration,take care.

[Bertiepuss in reply to spinela7]

Thank you 😊 Wishing you the best of luck 🙏 and you take care too.

[Bea-Pea]

Hello, I am not sure if anyone here has mentioned Ferric Maltol? I was prescribed this by my GP as Ferrics fumerate and sulphate make me feel quite nauseous. That said, I have been taking this for 3 months and there has only been very minor improvements but it may work for you ☺️? And it would be free as a prescribed medication 💊