iron supplements - Anemia Message Board

lynnstrong · 10-26-2009, 09:10 AM

is there a problem taking a 25mg iron supplement each day if i am running 5 miles/day?

Audrey-B · 10-26-2009, 08:51 PM

I gather you are anemic or very low in iron as you are posting on here? Firstly it depends where your ferritin is. If you are anemic or very low you should be keeping your exercise to a minimum. Strenuous exercise depletes the amount of oxygen in your system and being anemic/low iron has already depeleted the amount of oxygen running in your system, so adding daily runs to regime will make you even more tired and worn out. Gentle walking is considered best to give your ferritin a chance to climb. Running could hold you back and take much longer for your ferritin to rise.

Secondly, depending where your ferritin levels are up to you might need a lot more iron than 25mg once a day if you want to get it up to a decently high level in a shorter space of time.

It would also be a good idea to find out why your ferritin has dropped eg; heavy periods, internal bleeding, gluten intolerance or Celiac, thyroid problems, malabsorption of nutrients due to insufficient enzymes, vegetarian diet, long term stress.

lynnstrong · 10-27-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Audrey-B

I gather you are anemic or very low in iron as you are posting on here? Firstly it depends where your ferritin is. If you are anemic or very low you should be keeping your exercise to a minimum. Strenuous exercise depletes the amount of oxygen in your system and being anemic/low iron has already depeleted the amount of oxygen running in your system, so adding daily runs to regime will make you even more tired and worn out. Gentle walking is considered best to give your ferritin a chance to climb. Running could hold you back and take much longer for your ferritin to rise.

Secondly, depending where your ferritin levels are up to you might need a lot more iron than 25mg once a day if you want to get it up to a decently high level in a shorter space of time.

It would also be a good idea to find out why your ferritin has dropped eg; heavy periods, internal bleeding, gluten intolerance or Celiac, thyroid problems, malabsorption of nutrients due to insufficient enzymes, vegetarian diet, long term stress.

lynnstrong · 10-27-2009, 09:23 AM

i didn't give you enough information. my dad had a blood test and when he asked his doctor if he should take iron because his blood count was on the low side the doctor told him not to take any iron because his hemoglobin was at 15. he said taking iron can cause liver damage which is another reason for the blood test because there was a high level of 2 enzymes. competing in high school cross country running was why i take iron to keep up blood count. {i am male]