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Thanks for the article Jody, it was very informative!

Just as a follow-up, GNC has iron in 18 mg. strength. That's where I get

mine. I was iron deficient, but now that I'm back to a normal level, I think

I'll cut back to every other day after reading this!

Iron Supplements

>Thought I would share this on iron supplements,

>J

>

>Dangers of Iron Supplements

>

>http://healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=Column & id=68

>

>Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

>Director, Foundation for Integrated Medicine

>

>(Author of Power Healing: Use The New Integrated Medicine to Heal Yourself,

>Random House, 1997)

>----------------------------------------------------------------------

>Iron is unique among essential minerals, because there is no mechanism for

>its excretion once absorbed into the body. Whatever iron is absorbed must

>either be used or stored and excessive storage of iron in the body promotes

>the generation of free radicals. Excess dietary iron has been implicated by

>some scientists as a cause of cancer and heart disease. It also increases

>the risk of bacterial infection.

>Except for the lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli, all microbes require

>iron for growth. Many of them produce special binding proteins to secure

>iron from their environments. Humans also produce iron-binding proteins

>which have as their role the capture of free iron so that microbes can't

use

>it. An excess of iron overcomes this protective mechanism and in-creases

>susceptibility to bacterial infection. The amount of iron needed for

optimal

>health reflects a delicate balance between deficiency and excess.

>

>The best known effect of iron deficiency is anemia, which is the name given

>to a state in which the number of red blood cells is lower than normal.

>Anemia is not the same as iron deficiency, however. There are many

different

>causes of anemia, which include folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12

>deficiency, disorders of the bone marrow and conditions which increase the

>rate at which red blood cells are broken down in the spleen. Iron

>deficiency, when mild, may not produce anemia but may still cause fatigue,

>im-mune de-fects or fungal infections of skin. There are probably twenty

>million people in the U.S. who are iron deficient and half of them are not

>anemic. Wom-en with chronic fatigue and mild iron deficiency who are not

>anemic improve their energy after taking low doses of iron. Twenty

>milligrams per day is all that's needed, no more. Low-dose iron supplements

>can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if those people

>have mild iron deficiency. Presumably, correcting iron deficiency improves

>metabolism and immunity.

>

>It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain sixty to three

>hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than can even be

>absorbed from a single pill. High dose iron supplements, taken orally or by

>injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infec-tion. Studies in

>southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose iron can be

>harmful. When Indonesian school children who are not iron deficient take

>iron pills, they fail to grow normally. When iron supplements are given to

>Somali nomads or Masai tribes-man, their rate of infection increases, even

>though their iron deficiency is corrected. The high frequency of negative

>responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the

interaction

>between iron and zinc.

>

>Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and supplemental iron

>can aggravate zinc deficiency. The recommended daily allowance for zinc

>(RDA) is based on the assumption that forty per cent of the zinc that is

>swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, zinc absorption is only

>seventeen to thirty-five per cent and depends upon what is eaten along with

>zinc. Starch and fiber interfere with zinc absorption, as do calcium and

>iron. Lack of stomach acid, which may be caused by infection or

>acid-lowering drugs, also interferes with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency

>is common in Africa and Asia, where people consume large quantities of

milk,

>which is high in calcium and low in zinc, and of starches and fibres which

>inter-fere with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency profoundly depresses

>immunity and administering iron to a zinc-deficient person is extremely

>risky. Not only does iron stimulate bacterial growth, but, by aggravat-ing

>zinc deficiency, it weakens the immune system of the person being

>supplemented.

>

>No one should ever take iron supplements unless iron deficiency is present,

>with the possible exception of pregnant women. The best test for iron

>deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level. Ferritin is a

>protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common sign of

iron

>deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the interpretation of ferritin

levels

>is subject to interpretation. Because the body has a limited capacity for

>iron absorption, it does not make any sense to administer more than twenty

>milligrams of elemental iron at a time. Iron should not be taken as part of

>a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes with the

>absorption of the essen-tial minerals zinc, manganese and molybdenum; it

>destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium and magnesium.

>Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of vitamin C

>(between one hundred and five hundred milligrams).

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>_________________________________________________________________

>Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com

>

>

>

>-------------------------------------

>The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and is not

intended to replace expert medical care.

>Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new treatments.

>----------------------------------------

> DISCLAIMER

>

>Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

endorsement of

>the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to emails.

>---------------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------

>

>

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Share on other sites

Hi Jody, iThyroid.com has some info about iron as well:

http://www.ithyroid.com/iron.htm

Iron depletes copper and copper deficiency causes hypterT symptoms.

One of my many theories about why I'm hyperT is that I was told to

take so much iron while I was pregnant. That is when my hotflashes

started, I think. Of course I have many more theories... none

proven.

:)Pam B.

> Thought I would share this on iron supplements,

> J

>

> Dangers of Iron Supplements

>

> http://healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=Column & id=68

>

> Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

> Director, Foundation for Integrated Medicine

>

> (Author of Power Healing: Use The New Integrated Medicine to Heal

Yourself,

> Random House, 1997)

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> Iron is unique among essential minerals, because there is no

mechanism for

> its excretion once absorbed into the body. Whatever iron is

absorbed must

> either be used or stored and excessive storage of iron in the body

promotes

> the generation of free radicals. Excess dietary iron has been

implicated by

> some scientists as a cause of cancer and heart disease. It also

increases

> the risk of bacterial infection.

> Except for the lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli, all microbes

require

> iron for growth. Many of them produce special binding proteins to

secure

> iron from their environments. Humans also produce iron-binding

proteins

> which have as their role the capture of free iron so that microbes

can't use

> it. An excess of iron overcomes this protective mechanism and in-

creases

> susceptibility to bacterial infection. The amount of iron needed

for optimal

> health reflects a delicate balance between deficiency and excess.

>

> The best known effect of iron deficiency is anemia, which is the

name given

> to a state in which the number of red blood cells is lower than

normal.

> Anemia is not the same as iron deficiency, however. There are many

different

> causes of anemia, which include folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12

> deficiency, disorders of the bone marrow and conditions which

increase the

> rate at which red blood cells are broken down in the spleen. Iron

> deficiency, when mild, may not produce anemia but may still cause

fatigue,

> im-mune de-fects or fungal infections of skin. There are probably

twenty

> million people in the U.S. who are iron deficient and half of them

are not

> anemic. Wom-en with chronic fatigue and mild iron deficiency who

are not

> anemic improve their energy after taking low doses of iron. Twenty

> milligrams per day is all that's needed, no more. Low-dose iron

supplements

> can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if those

people

> have mild iron deficiency. Presumably, correcting iron deficiency

improves

> metabolism and immunity.

>

> It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain sixty to

three

> hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than can

even be

> absorbed from a single pill. High dose iron supplements, taken

orally or by

> injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infec-tion. Studies

in

> southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose iron

can be

> harmful. When Indonesian school children who are not iron deficient

take

> iron pills, they fail to grow normally. When iron supplements are

given to

> Somali nomads or Masai tribes-man, their rate of infection

increases, even

> though their iron deficiency is corrected. The high frequency of

negative

> responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the

interaction

> between iron and zinc.

>

> Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and

supplemental iron

> can aggravate zinc deficiency. The recommended daily allowance for

zinc

> (RDA) is based on the assumption that forty per cent of the zinc

that is

> swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, zinc absorption is

only

> seventeen to thirty-five per cent and depends upon what is eaten

along with

> zinc. Starch and fiber interfere with zinc absorption, as do

calcium and

> iron. Lack of stomach acid, which may be caused by infection or

> acid-lowering drugs, also interferes with zinc absorption. Zinc

deficiency

> is common in Africa and Asia, where people consume large quantities

of milk,

> which is high in calcium and low in zinc, and of starches and

fibres which

> inter-fere with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency profoundly

depresses

> immunity and administering iron to a zinc-deficient person is

extremely

> risky. Not only does iron stimulate bacterial growth, but, by

aggravat-ing

> zinc deficiency, it weakens the immune system of the person being

> supplemented.

>

> No one should ever take iron supplements unless iron deficiency is

present,

> with the possible exception of pregnant women. The best test for

iron

> deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level.

Ferritin is a

> protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common

sign of iron

> deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the interpretation of

ferritin levels

> is subject to interpretation. Because the body has a limited

capacity for

> iron absorption, it does not make any sense to administer more than

twenty

> milligrams of elemental iron at a time. Iron should not be taken as

part of

> a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes with

the

> absorption of the essen-tial minerals zinc, manganese and

molybdenum; it

> destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium and

magnesium.

> Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of

vitamin C

> (between one hundred and five hundred milligrams).

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device:

http://mobile.msn.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Jody, iThyroid.com has some info about iron as well:

http://www.ithyroid.com/iron.htm

Iron depletes copper and copper deficiency causes hypterT symptoms.

One of my many theories about why I'm hyperT is that I was told to

take so much iron while I was pregnant. That is when my hotflashes

started, I think. Of course I have many more theories... none

proven.

:)Pam B.

> Thought I would share this on iron supplements,

> J

>

> Dangers of Iron Supplements

>

> http://healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=Column & id=68

>

> Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

> Director, Foundation for Integrated Medicine

>

> (Author of Power Healing: Use The New Integrated Medicine to Heal

Yourself,

> Random House, 1997)

> --------------------------------------------------------------------

--

> Iron is unique among essential minerals, because there is no

mechanism for

> its excretion once absorbed into the body. Whatever iron is

absorbed must

> either be used or stored and excessive storage of iron in the body

promotes

> the generation of free radicals. Excess dietary iron has been

implicated by

> some scientists as a cause of cancer and heart disease. It also

increases

> the risk of bacterial infection.

> Except for the lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli, all microbes

require

> iron for growth. Many of them produce special binding proteins to

secure

> iron from their environments. Humans also produce iron-binding

proteins

> which have as their role the capture of free iron so that microbes

can't use

> it. An excess of iron overcomes this protective mechanism and in-

creases

> susceptibility to bacterial infection. The amount of iron needed

for optimal

> health reflects a delicate balance between deficiency and excess.

>

> The best known effect of iron deficiency is anemia, which is the

name given

> to a state in which the number of red blood cells is lower than

normal.

> Anemia is not the same as iron deficiency, however. There are many

different

> causes of anemia, which include folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12

> deficiency, disorders of the bone marrow and conditions which

increase the

> rate at which red blood cells are broken down in the spleen. Iron

> deficiency, when mild, may not produce anemia but may still cause

fatigue,

> im-mune de-fects or fungal infections of skin. There are probably

twenty

> million people in the U.S. who are iron deficient and half of them

are not

> anemic. Wom-en with chronic fatigue and mild iron deficiency who

are not

> anemic improve their energy after taking low doses of iron. Twenty

> milligrams per day is all that's needed, no more. Low-dose iron

supplements

> can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if those

people

> have mild iron deficiency. Presumably, correcting iron deficiency

improves

> metabolism and immunity.

>

> It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain sixty to

three

> hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than can

even be

> absorbed from a single pill. High dose iron supplements, taken

orally or by

> injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infec-tion. Studies

in

> southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose iron

can be

> harmful. When Indonesian school children who are not iron deficient

take

> iron pills, they fail to grow normally. When iron supplements are

given to

> Somali nomads or Masai tribes-man, their rate of infection

increases, even

> though their iron deficiency is corrected. The high frequency of

negative

> responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the

interaction

> between iron and zinc.

>

> Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and

supplemental iron

> can aggravate zinc deficiency. The recommended daily allowance for

zinc

> (RDA) is based on the assumption that forty per cent of the zinc

that is

> swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, zinc absorption is

only

> seventeen to thirty-five per cent and depends upon what is eaten

along with

> zinc. Starch and fiber interfere with zinc absorption, as do

calcium and

> iron. Lack of stomach acid, which may be caused by infection or

> acid-lowering drugs, also interferes with zinc absorption. Zinc

deficiency

> is common in Africa and Asia, where people consume large quantities

of milk,

> which is high in calcium and low in zinc, and of starches and

fibres which

> inter-fere with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency profoundly

depresses

> immunity and administering iron to a zinc-deficient person is

extremely

> risky. Not only does iron stimulate bacterial growth, but, by

aggravat-ing

> zinc deficiency, it weakens the immune system of the person being

> supplemented.

>

> No one should ever take iron supplements unless iron deficiency is

present,

> with the possible exception of pregnant women. The best test for

iron

> deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level.

Ferritin is a

> protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common

sign of iron

> deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the interpretation of

ferritin levels

> is subject to interpretation. Because the body has a limited

capacity for

> iron absorption, it does not make any sense to administer more than

twenty

> milligrams of elemental iron at a time. Iron should not be taken as

part of

> a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes with

the

> absorption of the essen-tial minerals zinc, manganese and

molybdenum; it

> destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium and

magnesium.

> Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of

vitamin C

> (between one hundred and five hundred milligrams).

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device:

http://mobile.msn.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi , how old is your babe? Mine is 16 months. He was born 2

months early... about 1 month after I started taking the super iron

supplements. They don't know why he was early though.

Here is another one of my theories:

My husband went on the eat right 4 your blood type diet to see if it

would lower his cholesterol - we eat very low fat anyway, so we

though maybe it was the types of foods... plus he is only in his late

30's and he already has osteo-arthritis... which the diet says is

caused by potatos in blood type O's. So with this diet we started

eating salads every night in addition to the regular vegis... and

started having rice instead of potatos. Both are supposed to be good

for type A (me) so I thought I was doing a good thing... but as the

months went on (looking back) I was getting very hyperT. And it was

in October and I had bought a big Costco bag of chocolate for

halloween and over the month I ate the whole thing and had to run out

for another for the big night... which hardly anyone came so I HAD to

eat that bag as well ;) and now, reading on iThyroid.com, chocolate,

rice, and green salads in quantity are big no-no's for hyperT.

And another:

We went to Belize in March 2000, and I came home pregnant... Many of

my pregnancy symptoms were also hyperT but my dr. dismissed them as

pregnancy related. No tests were run... and I haven't gotten around

to ask my dr. about this yet.. but I'm wondering if I caught some

parisites in this third world country. We didn't drink the water, but

we did swim in it. and cook in it.

And another:

Stress... way too much of it while pg. House remodel that ran late,

baby that was early, inlaws got nutty about baby stuff(stupid),

trying to run a home business with a baby that wouldn't let me put

him down for the first 8 months of his life and still makes me hold

him for much of the day. Sept. 11th gripped me for more than a week.

Having a baby 3000 miles away from family... (good thing concering

the inlaws ;).

Well, this is long!

:)Pam

> >> Thought I would share this on iron supplements,

> >> J

> >>

> >> Dangers of Iron Supplements

> >>

> >> http://healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=Column & id=68

> >>

> >> Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

> >> Director, Foundation for Integrated Medicine

> >>

> >> (Author of Power Healing: Use The New Integrated Medicine to Heal

> >Yourself,

> >> Random House, 1997)

> >> -----------------------------------------------------------------

---

> >--

> >> Iron is unique among essential minerals, because there is no

> >mechanism for

> >> its excretion once absorbed into the body. Whatever iron is

> >absorbed must

> >> either be used or stored and excessive storage of iron in the

body

> >promotes

> >> the generation of free radicals. Excess dietary iron has been

> >implicated by

> >> some scientists as a cause of cancer and heart disease. It also

> >increases

> >> the risk of bacterial infection.

> >> Except for the lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli, all

microbes

> >require

> >> iron for growth. Many of them produce special binding proteins to

> >secure

> >> iron from their environments. Humans also produce iron-binding

> >proteins

> >> which have as their role the capture of free iron so that

microbes

> >can't use

> >> it. An excess of iron overcomes this protective mechanism and in-

> >creases

> >> susceptibility to bacterial infection. The amount of iron needed

> >for optimal

> >> health reflects a delicate balance between deficiency and excess.

> >>

> >> The best known effect of iron deficiency is anemia, which is the

> >name given

> >> to a state in which the number of red blood cells is lower than

> >normal.

> >> Anemia is not the same as iron deficiency, however. There are

many

> >different

> >> causes of anemia, which include folic acid deficiency, vitamin

B12

> >> deficiency, disorders of the bone marrow and conditions which

> >increase the

> >> rate at which red blood cells are broken down in the spleen. Iron

> >> deficiency, when mild, may not produce anemia but may still cause

> >fatigue,

> >> im-mune de-fects or fungal infections of skin. There are probably

> >twenty

> >> million people in the U.S. who are iron deficient and half of

them

> >are not

> >> anemic. Wom-en with chronic fatigue and mild iron deficiency who

> >are not

> >> anemic improve their energy after taking low doses of iron.

Twenty

> >> milligrams per day is all that's needed, no more. Low-dose iron

> >supplements

> >> can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if

those

> >people

> >> have mild iron deficiency. Presumably, correcting iron deficiency

> >improves

> >> metabolism and immunity.

> >>

> >> It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain sixty

to

> >three

> >> hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than can

> >even be

> >> absorbed from a single pill. High dose iron supplements, taken

> >orally or by

> >> injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infec-tion.

Studies

> >in

> >> southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose iron

> >can be

> >> harmful. When Indonesian school children who are not iron

deficient

> >take

> >> iron pills, they fail to grow normally. When iron supplements are

> >given to

> >> Somali nomads or Masai tribes-man, their rate of infection

> >increases, even

> >> though their iron deficiency is corrected. The high frequency of

> >negative

> >> responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the

> >interaction

> >> between iron and zinc.

> >>

> >> Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and

> >supplemental iron

> >> can aggravate zinc deficiency. The recommended daily allowance

for

> >zinc

> >> (RDA) is based on the assumption that forty per cent of the zinc

> >that is

> >> swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, zinc absorption is

> >only

> >> seventeen to thirty-five per cent and depends upon what is eaten

> >along with

> >> zinc. Starch and fiber interfere with zinc absorption, as do

> >calcium and

> >> iron. Lack of stomach acid, which may be caused by infection or

> >> acid-lowering drugs, also interferes with zinc absorption. Zinc

> >deficiency

> >> is common in Africa and Asia, where people consume large

quantities

> >of milk,

> >> which is high in calcium and low in zinc, and of starches and

> >fibres which

> >> inter-fere with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency profoundly

> >depresses

> >> immunity and administering iron to a zinc-deficient person is

> >extremely

> >> risky. Not only does iron stimulate bacterial growth, but, by

> >aggravat-ing

> >> zinc deficiency, it weakens the immune system of the person being

> >> supplemented.

> >>

> >> No one should ever take iron supplements unless iron deficiency

is

> >present,

> >> with the possible exception of pregnant women. The best test for

> >iron

> >> deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level.

> >Ferritin is a

> >> protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common

> >sign of iron

> >> deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the interpretation of

> >ferritin levels

> >> is subject to interpretation. Because the body has a limited

> >capacity for

> >> iron absorption, it does not make any sense to administer more

than

> >twenty

> >> milligrams of elemental iron at a time. Iron should not be taken

as

> >part of

> >> a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes with

> >the

> >> absorption of the essen-tial minerals zinc, manganese and

> >molybdenum; it

> >> destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium and

> >magnesium.

> >> Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of

> >vitamin C

> >> (between one hundred and five hundred milligrams).

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >> _________________________________________________________________

> >> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device:

> >http://mobile.msn.com

> >

> >

> >-------------------------------------

> >The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and

is not

> intended to replace expert medical care.

> >Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

treatments.

> >----------------------------------------

> > DISCLAIMER

> >

> >Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

> endorsement of

> >the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to

emails.

> >-------------------------------------------------------------------

--------

> -----------

> >

> >

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest guest

In large quantities. They contain CADMIUM which is, acording to

ithyroid.com a major contributor to thyroid disease.

http://www.ithyroid.com/cadmium.htm

> > >> Thought I would share this on iron supplements,

> > >> J

> > >>

> > >> Dangers of Iron Supplements

> > >>

> > >> http://healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=Column

> <http://healthy.net/asp/templates/column.asp?PageType=Column & id=68>

& id=68

> > >>

> > >> Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

> > >> Director, Foundation for Integrated Medicine

> > >>

> > >> (Author of Power Healing: Use The New Integrated Medicine to

Heal

> > >Yourself,

> > >> Random House, 1997)

> > >> ---------------------------------------------------------------

--

> ---

> > >--

> > >> Iron is unique among essential minerals, because there is no

> > >mechanism for

> > >> its excretion once absorbed into the body. Whatever iron is

> > >absorbed must

> > >> either be used or stored and excessive storage of iron in the

> body

> > >promotes

> > >> the generation of free radicals. Excess dietary iron has been

> > >implicated by

> > >> some scientists as a cause of cancer and heart disease. It also

> > >increases

> > >> the risk of bacterial infection.

> > >> Except for the lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli, all

> microbes

> > >require

> > >> iron for growth. Many of them produce special binding proteins

to

> > >secure

> > >> iron from their environments. Humans also produce iron-binding

> > >proteins

> > >> which have as their role the capture of free iron so that

> microbes

> > >can't use

> > >> it. An excess of iron overcomes this protective mechanism and

in-

> > >creases

> > >> susceptibility to bacterial infection. The amount of iron

needed

> > >for optimal

> > >> health reflects a delicate balance between deficiency and

excess.

> > >>

> > >> The best known effect of iron deficiency is anemia, which is

the

> > >name given

> > >> to a state in which the number of red blood cells is lower than

> > >normal.

> > >> Anemia is not the same as iron deficiency, however. There are

> many

> > >different

> > >> causes of anemia, which include folic acid deficiency, vitamin

> B12

> > >> deficiency, disorders of the bone marrow and conditions which

> > >increase the

> > >> rate at which red blood cells are broken down in the spleen.

Iron

> > >> deficiency, when mild, may not produce anemia but may still

cause

> > >fatigue,

> > >> im-mune de-fects or fungal infections of skin. There are

probably

> > >twenty

> > >> million people in the U.S. who are iron deficient and half of

> them

> > >are not

> > >> anemic. Wom-en with chronic fatigue and mild iron deficiency

who

> > >are not

> > >> anemic improve their energy after taking low doses of iron.

> Twenty

> > >> milligrams per day is all that's needed, no more. Low-dose iron

> > >supplements

> > >> can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if

> those

> > >people

> > >> have mild iron deficiency. Presumably, correcting iron

deficiency

> > >improves

> > >> metabolism and immunity.

> > >>

> > >> It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain

sixty

> to

> > >three

> > >> hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than

can

> > >even be

> > >> absorbed from a single pill. High dose iron supplements, taken

> > >orally or by

> > >> injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infec-tion.

> Studies

> > >in

> > >> southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose

iron

> > >can be

> > >> harmful. When Indonesian school children who are not iron

> deficient

> > >take

> > >> iron pills, they fail to grow normally. When iron supplements

are

> > >given to

> > >> Somali nomads or Masai tribes-man, their rate of infection

> > >increases, even

> > >> though their iron deficiency is corrected. The high frequency

of

> > >negative

> > >> responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect

the

> > >interaction

> > >> between iron and zinc.

> > >>

> > >> Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and

> > >supplemental iron

> > >> can aggravate zinc deficiency. The recommended daily allowance

> for

> > >zinc

> > >> (RDA) is based on the assumption that forty per cent of the

zinc

> > >that is

> > >> swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, zinc absorption

is

> > >only

> > >> seventeen to thirty-five per cent and depends upon what is

eaten

> > >along with

> > >> zinc. Starch and fiber interfere with zinc absorption, as do

> > >calcium and

> > >> iron. Lack of stomach acid, which may be caused by infection or

> > >> acid-lowering drugs, also interferes with zinc absorption. Zinc

> > >deficiency

> > >> is common in Africa and Asia, where people consume large

> quantities

> > >of milk,

> > >> which is high in calcium and low in zinc, and of starches and

> > >fibres which

> > >> inter-fere with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency profoundly

> > >depresses

> > >> immunity and administering iron to a zinc-deficient person is

> > >extremely

> > >> risky. Not only does iron stimulate bacterial growth, but, by

> > >aggravat-ing

> > >> zinc deficiency, it weakens the immune system of the person

being

> > >> supplemented.

> > >>

> > >> No one should ever take iron supplements unless iron

deficiency

> is

> > >present,

> > >> with the possible exception of pregnant women. The best test

for

> > >iron

> > >> deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level.

> > >Ferritin is a

> > >> protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common

> > >sign of iron

> > >> deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the interpretation of

> > >ferritin levels

> > >> is subject to interpretation. Because the body has a limited

> > >capacity for

> > >> iron absorption, it does not make any sense to administer more

> than

> > >twenty

> > >> milligrams of elemental iron at a time. Iron should not be

taken

> as

> > >part of

> > >> a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes

with

> > >the

> > >> absorption of the essen-tial minerals zinc, manganese and

> > >molybdenum; it

> > >> destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium

and

> > >magnesium.

> > >> Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of

> > >vitamin C

> > >> (between one hundred and five hundred milligrams).

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

> > >>

_________________________________________________________________

> > >> Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device:

> > > http://mobile.msn.com <http://mobile.msn.com>

> > >

> > >

> > >-------------------------------------

> > >The Graves' list is intended for informational purposes only and

> is not

> > intended to replace expert medical care.

> > >Please consult your doctor before changing or trying new

> treatments.

> > >----------------------------------------

> > > DISCLAIMER

> > >

> > >Advertisments placed on this yahoo groups list does not have the

> > endorsement of

> > >the listowner. I have no input as to what ads are attached to

> emails.

> > >-----------------------------------------------------------------

--

> --------

> > -----------

> > >

> > >

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  • 5 months later...
Guest guest

I'll go ahead and post this again, since I didnt even receive one response.

Maybe everyone is gone for the weekend. Hope all is well.

Marcy Wallis

Hi everyone,

I had a question regarding iron supplements. Can you all tell me what you take

daily? I take ferrous SO4 325 MG (5gr) and I take one daily. That WAS working

for me, but lately I am SOOOO tired again. I am 21-22 weeks and I definately

went through major fatigue in my first trimester, but was getting better, and

the past week, I'm exhausted again. I was wondering if I should take 2 of these

iron supps a day. Thanks!

Marcy Wallis

edd 12/08/02

ps- I DO have a doctors appt this week so I will ask my doctor too, I just

wanted an idea of what everyone took.

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Guest guest

Sorry, Marcy -- I don't take any extra iron. I'll be watching the

repsonses!

> I'll go ahead and post this again, since I didnt even receive one

response. Maybe everyone is gone for the weekend. Hope all is

well.

>

> Marcy Wallis

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I had a question regarding iron supplements. Can you all tell

me what you take daily? I take ferrous SO4 325 MG (5gr) and I

take one daily. That WAS working for me, but lately I am SOOOO

tired again. I am 21-22 weeks and I definately went through

major fatigue in my first trimester, but was getting better, and the

past week, I'm exhausted again. I was wondering if I should take

2 of these iron supps a day. Thanks!

>

> Marcy Wallis

> edd 12/08/02

>

> ps- I DO have a doctors appt this week so I will ask my doctor

too, I just wanted an idea of what everyone took.

>

>

>

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Guest guest

Sorry, Marcy -- I don't take any extra iron. I'll be watching the

repsonses!

> I'll go ahead and post this again, since I didnt even receive one

response. Maybe everyone is gone for the weekend. Hope all is

well.

>

> Marcy Wallis

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I had a question regarding iron supplements. Can you all tell

me what you take daily? I take ferrous SO4 325 MG (5gr) and I

take one daily. That WAS working for me, but lately I am SOOOO

tired again. I am 21-22 weeks and I definately went through

major fatigue in my first trimester, but was getting better, and the

past week, I'm exhausted again. I was wondering if I should take

2 of these iron supps a day. Thanks!

>

> Marcy Wallis

> edd 12/08/02

>

> ps- I DO have a doctors appt this week so I will ask my doctor

too, I just wanted an idea of what everyone took.

>

>

>

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Guest guest

I do not take any extra. I did feel the fatigue the same as you at

about the same time you are at now. I had my labs done and my iron

was fine. Come to find out, the fatigue was caused by me being

slightly dehydrated!! I never dreamed that not drinking enough would

cause me to feel exhausted. Just a thought!

Trina

> > I'll go ahead and post this again, since I didnt even receive

one

> response. Maybe everyone is gone for the weekend. Hope all is

> well.

> >

> > Marcy Wallis

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I had a question regarding iron supplements. Can you all tell

> me what you take daily? I take ferrous SO4 325 MG (5gr) and I

> take one daily. That WAS working for me, but lately I am SOOOO

> tired again. I am 21-22 weeks and I definately went through

> major fatigue in my first trimester, but was getting better, and

the

> past week, I'm exhausted again. I was wondering if I should take

> 2 of these iron supps a day. Thanks!

> >

> > Marcy Wallis

> > edd 12/08/02

> >

> > ps- I DO have a doctors appt this week so I will ask my doctor

> too, I just wanted an idea of what everyone took.

> >

> >

> >

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Guest guest

I do not take any extra. I did feel the fatigue the same as you at

about the same time you are at now. I had my labs done and my iron

was fine. Come to find out, the fatigue was caused by me being

slightly dehydrated!! I never dreamed that not drinking enough would

cause me to feel exhausted. Just a thought!

Trina

> > I'll go ahead and post this again, since I didnt even receive

one

> response. Maybe everyone is gone for the weekend. Hope all is

> well.

> >

> > Marcy Wallis

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I had a question regarding iron supplements. Can you all tell

> me what you take daily? I take ferrous SO4 325 MG (5gr) and I

> take one daily. That WAS working for me, but lately I am SOOOO

> tired again. I am 21-22 weeks and I definately went through

> major fatigue in my first trimester, but was getting better, and

the

> past week, I'm exhausted again. I was wondering if I should take

> 2 of these iron supps a day. Thanks!

> >

> > Marcy Wallis

> > edd 12/08/02

> >

> > ps- I DO have a doctors appt this week so I will ask my doctor

> too, I just wanted an idea of what everyone took.

> >

> >

> >

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