Before You Pop That Iron Pill: 3 Facts You Should Know

To understand what it means to have low iron levels, we spoke to one of our in-house naturopaths to learn more.

Rachel is a degree-qualified naturopath based in Brisbane who also provides clinical support to Health Practitioners. Here’s what she had to say about low iron levels:

Rachel: “Having low iron can happen in three stages: depletion, deficiency, and anemia.”

Rachel: “Iron depletion happens when your body has a low amount of stored iron. "However, it still has normal levels of a protein called hemoglobin. Think of this as having enough money in your bank account for your body's needs, with a little extra in savings."

"Rachel: “Next is iron deficiency – when your stored iron and hemoglobin levels drop below normal. You may feel tired. This is like having low funds in your both everyday and savings accounts that are falling short of the amount you need.”

Rachel: “The last stage is iron deficiency anemia. This happens when your hemoglobin levels are critically low. When this occurs, your blood cannot deliver enough oxygen to your cells.”

Rachel: Symptoms include looking extremely pale, breathlessness, dizziness, and fatigue. At this stage, your iron ‘dollars’ are in the negative, and your body needs a top-up.”

With that in mind, here are three facts you should know before you decide to take an iron supplement.

The first step to taking an iron supplements is getting a blood test. This test checks several markers to tell you:

• How much iron is in your blood cells
• How much iron is stored in your liver 
• How much iron is being moved from the liver to your cells

These markers can indicate if your iron levels are too low or too high. They can also show if your body is storing iron but not using it. Working with a healthcare provider is the best way to fix the root cause of iron imbalances after a blood test.

Once your healthcare team checks your results and decides you need an iron supplement consider Fact #2 and Fact #3 below.

Fact 2: You Might Want to Reconsider Taking Iron Supplements When You’re Sick

Your immune system needs good amounts of iron. Without it, we can become vulnerable to infection.⁵

While iron helps support a healthy immune system, iron supplements might not always be a good idea when you're on the verge of illness. This is because bacteria use iron for their survival. When you're sick, your body hides its available iron until the infection passes. However, taking iron supplements during this time can feed bacteria, which could potentially encourage a developing infection.⁶

If you experience an infection while taking iron, talk to your healthcare provider before changing your iron regimen. It may be a good idea to wait a few days. Rest and recover before starting again. This way, you won’t make your illness worse!

Fact 3: Iron Bisglycinate is a Well-Absorbed Iron Supplement

When it comes to iron supplements, some types work better than others.⁷,⁸ Iron bisglycinate is a good choice.

It is a type of iron linked to two glycine molecules. This makes it easier for your body to absorb. This form helps transport minerals efficiently across the gut wall and into the bloodstream.⁹

The body absorbs iron bisglycinate better. This means it is less likely to cause digestive problems like nausea and constipation than other types of iron.

Researchers studied more than 2,000 people in a review of 11 clinical trials. Iron bisglycinate had a 64% lower chance of causing stomach side effects compared to other forms of iron. Another study showed that taking 25mg of iron bisglycinate improved iron levels as much as 50mg of iron sulfate.

To learn more about a good mix of iron bisglycinate and other nutrients, check out Hemagenics Iron Advanced.

Supporting Healthy Iron Levels Naturally

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