What is the best Iron Supplement for RLS for my husband to take at night. TIA
RLS and Iron supplements: What is the... - Restless Legs Syn...
RLS and Iron supplements
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He should take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. He should take it every other day, preferably at night at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee or tea and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee or tea since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach and the tannins in coffee and tea limit absorption. If he has problems with constipation he should switch to iron bisglycinate. If his ferritin is between 75 and 100 or if his transferrin saturation(TSAT) is below 20, he may need an iron infusion since iron isn't absorbed as well above 75. If he takes magnesium or calcium he should take them at least 2 hours apart since they interfere with the absorption of iron. He shouldn't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron. Also antacids interfere with its absorption. If he takes thyroid medicine he shouldn't take it within 4 hours.
Taking iron with orange juice is more likely to make rls worse plus it will push insulin levels up , and since insulin drives cells to consume the blood sugar it will make it harder to get to relax and sleep. A natural high potency low sugar form of vitamin c is acerola cherry.
Unfortunately acerola cherry juice is ridiculously expensive in the UK, at £7-£12 per 330ml, as well as difficult to find on many high streets. If someone needs to avoid the sugar and calories in orange juice, taking a vitamin C supplement is the more cost effective option.
Unfortunately vitamin c supplements are not as effective as natural vitamin c which can be obained from a kale rich smoothie (cooking it destroys the vitamin c)
Of course, when considering vitamin C intake in general -absolutely! But when talking about taking vitC with an iron tab to boost absorption of that tablet we don't need to be too prescriptive
I am confused as the iron comes in 14mg tablets so he would need to take a lot each time. Any help please.
What is the name of the iron he is taking?
iron bisglycinate
Sue has answered below re the ferrous bisglycinate. Just for information you can get 200mg ferrous sulphate tablets from e.g. Superdrug pharmacies: the NHS recommends 1 tablet 2 or 3 times a day. This can lead to constipation, which is why Gentle Iron (bisglycinate) may be the better option anyway.
"giving oral iron more than once a day or at a dose greater than 85 mg per day does not necessary lead to a greater increase in absorbable iron." source: hopkinsmedicine.org/neurolo...
Besides their misuse of necessary instead of necessarily, that's a rather vague and unscientific statement. It implies that in a proportion of cases taking more than once a day *does* result in an increase. (I presume that the [uncredited] research that they refer to was more precise!)
But regardless of this, ferrous (bis/di) glycinate is really a safer initial recommendation for most: ferrous sulphate (or fumarate) induces constipation in too many people who often have other gut problems, and who then combat the constipation with measures that can reduce the effectiveness of the supplement.
'Gentle iron' is so called and marketed as such for a reason!
It 1st says a study showed that 325 mg of ferrous sulfate twice a day ... but then it says a" recent study" implying that this supplanted the first statement. I don't see it saying or implying " that in a proportion of cases taking more than once a day *does* result in an increase. " And of course if you take it twice a day, you are taking more iron so even if less is absorbed as a result, you will still get more iron than once a day.
'Necessarily...' absolutely implies that: if the results were definitive the report would simply leave out 'necessarily'. Clarity in language is all important.
But your last sentence is totally on point - as long as it doesn't lead to constipation.
'Gentle Iron' remains the best way to go for most to avoid intolerance and constipation.
I found an article with sources given on the facts iron given twice a day can reduce absorption. You have to have an account with Medscape to read it, but anyone can have an account. emedicine.medscape.com/arti...
I agree that ferrous bisglycinate is much less likely to cause constipation which is why I always say If you have problems with constipation switch to iron bisglycinate. The reason ferrous sulfate is normally recommended is that it is cheaper than iron bisglycinate and for most people do not cause constipation. Most of the brands are much more expensive. However I will change my recommendation.
25 mg of iron bisglycinate even though it has less elemental iron apparently works as well as the 65 mg of elemental iron in ferrous sulfate so he should take 2 tablets.
Don’t forget to have your husband check his Vitamin D levels. Low Vitamin D and low iron are correlated. Vitamin D blocks Hepcidin. Hepcidin blocks iron absorption. Take Vitamin D3 with a fatty meal.
I personally take Ferrous Fumarate 210mg, twice a day, one in the morning and one 12 hours later. I found sulphate did absolutely nothing for my RLS and for some reason my body cannot absorb sulphate as well as fumarate. Haven't personally tried bisglycinate so can't comment on that one. Haven't had an episode of RLS for almost 2 years, although I find if I take my second dose later than 12 hours after my first, I can sometimes feel a 'tingle' but it doesn't actually amount to anything, but this could very possibly be due to the fact that all of my iron levels are low because I have issues retaining iron.
Thank you for the interesting reply. Do you take Gabapentin as well as the iron.
See my reply to ChrisColumbus on taking it more than once a day although since you are taking twice the amount needed, I guess it doesn't matter that it doesn't result in more absorbable iron.
I was put on the iron for the simple reason that I am (and have always been, due to numerous health issues and surgeries) unable to maintain a 'satisfactory' iron level and regularly suffer with anaemia. It was just coincidental that switching me to ferrous fumarate seemed to sort out the RLS. This works for me but we are all very different so I can only comment on my own personal experience.
That's certainly true and I am glad it works for you.
I have to take redoxon vit c with my ferrous fumarate as this prevents constipation.
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