Iron
Iron is an essential mineral the body needs to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
Also listed as Ferrochel
More iron is not automatically better
EFSA set a safe level of total intake at 40 mg/day for adults, including pregnancy and lactation. It could not establish a tolerable upper intake level: 40 mg is not a precise boundary above which harm begins. This framework does not apply to medically supervised treatment. The US adult upper limit is 45 mg/day. 1 2
Stomach symptoms and overdose
Iron supplements can cause nausea and constipation, particularly at higher doses. Accidental overdose can be fatal in children and requires immediate medical or poison-center help. People with hereditary hemochromatosis, a condition causing iron accumulation, are advised to avoid iron supplements. 2
Which medicines change the discussion?
Iron can interfere with levothyroxine and levodopa, while proton pump inhibitors can reduce iron absorption. NIH advises people taking regular medicines to discuss iron status with their clinician. Product-specific timing matters more than a universal schedule. 2
For information, not individual medical advice. Ingredient studies do not establish the effectiveness of these products.
Sources
- Iron: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals NIH Office of Dietary Supplements