Iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron, such as prenatal vitamins, can cause severe medical problems and death if a person takes too many. Iron accounts for more deaths from poisoning than any other substance for children under the age of 5, reports The Merck Manual. Stages and Expectations
Is too much iron making you sick?
Small particles of iron can host bacteria, some of which are dangerous to humans. Once in your body, these bacteria could spread, making you sick. Iron Has Been Linked to Acne and Other Skin Conditions. If your skin is exposed to water with high iron content, your risks of suffering acne and other skin conditions may increase.
What can happen if you take too much iron?
- Dizziness, lightheadness, or feeling like you are about to pass out
- Fast or unusual heartbeat
- Headache
- Pain, including in your bones, chest, belly, and joints
- Problems with growth, for children and teens
- Shortness of breath
- Skin that’s pale or yellow
- Cold hands and feet
- Tiredness or weakness
What does too much iron do to your body?
Without treatment, an accumulation of iron can lead to health complications, such as:
- cirrhosis
- a higher chance of liver cancer relating to cirrhosis or hemochromatosis
- diabetes and associated complications
- congestive heart failure if too much iron builds up in the heart and the body cannot circulate enough blood
- irregular heart rhythms, or arrhythmias, leading to chest pain, palpitations, and dizziness
Will too much iron in your system make you tired?
Since the body cannot excrete the excess iron easily, an iron overdose can have a severe impact on your nervous system. You may experience a reduced level of consciousness as soon as half an hour to an hour after the overdose and may go into a coma. Other signs include drowsiness, dizziness, headache, fever, and a loss of interest in doing ...
Why is iron overload bad?
It is caused by the body’s regulatory system failing to keep iron levels within healthy limits. For most people, iron overload is not a concern. However, it is a problem for those who are genetically predisposed to excessive absorption of iron from the digestive tract.
How to get rid of iron?
The body has no easy way to dispose of extra iron. The most effective way to get rid of excess iron is blood loss.
How does the body regulate iron levels?
The body regulates iron levels by adjusting the rate of iron absorption from the digestive tract. Hepcidin, the body’s iron-regulatory hormone, is responsible for keeping iron stores in balance. Its main function is to suppress the absorption of iron. Basically, this is how it works ( 4. Trusted Source.
Why is iron so tightly regulated?
There are two reasons why iron levels are tightly regulated within the body: Iron is an essential nutrient that plays a role in many basic body functions, so we must get a small amount. High levels of iron are potentially toxic, so we should avoid getting too much.
What is the role of iron in the body?
It is a crucial part of hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. Hemoglobin is responsible for delivering oxygen to all of the body’s cells . There are two types of dietary iron:
Why is iron important for the immune system?
The immune system uses iron to kill harmful bacteria, so some amount of iron is needed to fight infections. Elevated levels of free iron stimulate the growth of bacteria and viruses, so too much iron can have the opposite effect and increase the risk of infections. ).
Where is heme iron found?
Heme iron: This type of iron is only found in animal foods, mostly in red meat. It is absorbed more easily than non-heme iron. Non-heme iron: Most dietary iron is in the non-heme form. It is found in both animals and plants.
What happens if you have iron overload?
People with hemochromatosis can suffer severe consequences of iron overload including liver scarring (cirrhosis), liver cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, low sex hormones and a bronzing of the skin colour. The excess iron damages various organs in the body.
How to prevent iron from causing organ damage?
It is possible to prevent the excess iron from causing organ damage by removing blood on a regular basis . The treatment of blood removal is known as venesection. It may take many months or even several years to unload the body of excess iron and the venesections must be done regularly.
Why does hemochromatosis occur?
This occurs because of a deficiency in hepcidin in the liver. Hemochromatosis is rather common and affects 1 in 200 people of Caucasian race who carry two C282Y mutations on their HFE genes.
What causes ferritin levels to go up?
Some forms of cancer. Some forms of infection. Problems with the immune system causing excess inflammation. Excess alcohol intake. If blood tests show your ferritin levels are between 300 to 1000 mcg/L, you have too much iron leaking into your blood and you could have any or several of the above causes.
What is the cause of hemochromatosis?
The inherited disorder of hemochromatosis causes severe iron excess or overload in the body. It is caused by an abnormal mutation (known as C282Y) in the HFE gene and you have to have 2 of these to have hemochromatosis.
What causes ferritin to be high?
Only 10% of cases of high ferritin are caused by hemochromatosis. Having high ferritin does not always mean that your whole body is overloaded with iron. The most common causes of high ferritin are –. Syndrome X and fatty liver caused by high insulin levels.
How much iron is absorbed by the liver?
To compensate for this daily loss of iron, the liver hormone hepcidin allows 1 to 2 mg of iron to be absorbed from food in the intestines. The balance is carefully controlled by hepcidin and it’s amazing that only 10% of daily dietary iron intake is absorbed.
What happens if you have iron in your liver?
People can begin to have seizures, a decrease in blood sugar levels and a fever. After a couple of days, iron builds up in the liver and causes damage to the organ. Symptoms of this liver damage can include bleeding and jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and white portion of the eyes.
How long does it take for iron to overdose?
Some people may not display any signs of an overdose. Once symptoms begin, they may only last a few hours and then stop and return a day or so later, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If treatment begins quickly after taking too much iron, the chance of recovery is better, especially if no symptoms occur within two days of the overdose. According to The Merck Manual, approximately 10 percent of people who develop severe symptoms associated with the overdose within six hours will die.
Why are men less likely to have low iron levels?
People without a low iron level should avoid taking iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron because of the risk of toxicity. Always consult a health care professional before taking iron supplements.
How long does it take for iron to build up in the body?
Depending on the severity of the overdose, the severe symptoms may occur anywhere between 12 hours and 5 weeks after taking too much iron. People can begin to have seizures, a decrease in blood sugar levels and a fever. After a couple of days, iron builds up in the liver and causes damage to the organ. Symptoms of this liver damage can include bleeding and jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and white portion of the eyes. The iron may cause scaring in the stomach and intestines, which can lead to a blockage in the digestive tract. Death usually occurs because of a buildup of iron in the heart, liver and endocrine glands, such as the pancreas, according to The Merck Manual.
Why is iron important for health?
By Abigail Adams Updated December 07, 2018. Every person needs iron to assist with transporting oxygen around the body. Supplemental iron can help bring iron levels to normal for people suffering from an iron deficiency. Iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron, such as prenatal vitamins, can cause severe medical problems ...
How do you know if you have iron poisoning?
Early signs and symptoms of iron poisoning involve the stomach and intestines. A person may experience symptoms such as explosive abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting, which can sometimes contain blood. Additional early symptoms include irritability and lethargy.
How to get more iron?
Getting More Iron From Your Diet. If you wish to avoid any risks associated with going overboard on iron supplements, or want to avoid supplements altogether , incorporate iron-rich foods into your diet. Nutritious sources include lean meats, fish such as salmon, eggs, beans and whole grains. If you primarily eat vegetarian iron sources, pair them ...
How do you know if you have iron overdose?
Symptoms. Below are symptoms of an iron overdose in different parts of the body. AIRWAYS AND LUNGS. Buildup of fluids in the lungs. STOMACH AND INTESTINES. These are the most common symptoms in the first 6 hours after ingestion. Black, and possibly bloody stools. Diarrhea. Liver damage.
How long does it take for a person to recover from an iron overdose?
There is a good chance of recovery if the person's symptoms are gone 48 hours after the iron overdose. But, severe liver damage can occur 2 to 5 days after the overdose. Some people have died up to a week after an iron overdose. The more quickly the person receives treatment, the better the chance for survival.
How to flush iron out of the stomach?
Whole bowel irrigation with a special solution to quickly flush the iron through the stomach and intestines (taken by mouth or through a tube through the nose into the stomach)
Is iron overdose dangerous?
Iron overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this mineral. This can be by accident or on purpose. Iron overdose is particularly dangerous for children.
Can children eat iron pills?
Iron overdose can be very severe in children. Children may sometimes eat large amounts of iron pills because they look like candy. Many manufacturers have changed their pills so they no longer look like candy.
Is iron bad for you?
Iron can be harmful in large amounts.
Can a child overdose on prenatal vitamins?
A severe overdose can happen if a child eats adult multivitamins, such as prenatal vitamins. If the child eats too many pediatric multivitamins, the effect is usually minor. This article is for information only. DO NOT use it to treat or manage an actual overdose.
What Causes Iron Overload?
While the symptoms are often silent in the early stages of hereditary hemochromatosis or iron overload, as it progresses it can lead to:
How to tell if you have iron deficiency?
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency. Fatigue, low energy, dizziness, headaches, nighttime leg cramps, and spoon-shaped finger/toe nails with ridges. A desire to chew ice, eat chalk or dirt, and an inability to tolerate cold weather are common factors associated with iron anemia.
What drugs inhibit iron absorption?
Prescription and OTC drugs such as Metformin, Synthroid, and NSAIDs such as Tylenol inhibit iron absorption
How to increase iron absorption?
Reduce, minimize or limit alcohol consumption, which will increase the absorption of iron in your diet.
What to do if your iron is low?
If your iron is low and you are actually diagnosed with an iron deficiency and iron anemia, consider vitamin C, which aids to increase iron absorption. Use cast-iron cookware.
Why can't you eat raw shellfish?
A copper deficiency causes tissues to retain excess iron. Never consume raw shellfish because it may contain a bacteria called Vibrio vulnificus that can be deadly to those with high iron levels. Avoid combining iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods. Combine them with calcium-rich foods instead to limit absorption.
Where is iron stored in the body?
Iron is stored in your muscles, the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Without it, your cells would become starved for oxygen, your brain and muscles wouldn’t function, and your immune system would be impaired and other problems arise from iron deficiency.
What happens if you take too much iron?
If you are taking in too much iron - whether it be from supplements or food intake, you may experience certain side effects and symptoms, these include [2]: Constipation.
How to know if iron is healthy?
One of the most reliable ways to know if your iron levels are healthy is with a blood test
How do you know if you’re getting enough iron?
Although a healthy, balanced diet is typically enough to ensure you’re getting the right amount of iron. There are some instances where people may need to take iron supplements, some examples include:
Why is my iron level high?
High iron levels can also be a result of taking too many iron supplements or simply consistently consuming foods high in iron.
Is too much of a good thing bad?
Have you ever heard of the phrase ‘too much of a good thing can be bad’? If so, you might be surprised that this doesn’t just apply to your favorite take out meal - it can also apply to one of the most essential minerals: iron.
Can you take too much iron?
Iron plays a crucial role in the body by helping make red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body. With this important role in mind, it might be surprising to hear that iron can be harmful in large amounts.
Why doesn't iron work?
Talk to your doctor about the proper type of iron to take — enteric-coated tablets don't work as well because of how it is absorbed. If your physician doesn't think you absorb iron well in the gastrointestinal tract or if the deficiency is due to chronic blood loss, they might recommend intravenous (IV) iron.
What is the role of iron in the body?
Iron plays a significant role in the body as it helps maintain the health of your cells, skin, hair and nails, points out the UCSF Health. Advertisement. This mineral also carries oxygen in the blood through hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein. Hemoglobin lets those red blood cells bring oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body, ...
How many cases of iron deficiency anemia are diagnosed annually?
Physicians diagnose around 2.8 million cases of anemia per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why do women have iron deficiency anemia?
While iron-deficiency anemia doesn't solely affect women, they are more likely than men to develop the condition because of their reproductive system. The Office on Women's Health reports that up to 5 percent of women of childbearing age develop this condition as a result of heavy bleeding during menstrual periods.
How many people died from anemia in 2017?
In 2017, 5,382 people died from anemia, according to the 2019 National Vital Statistics Report. The majority of anemia-linked deaths occurred in people age 85 and older. When you do the math, it's clear that death from low iron levels isn't common, but it can occur when the condition isn't diagnosed and treated properly.
Why do vegetarians have low iron levels?
People who are vegetarians risk having low levels of this mineral because they don't substitute iron-rich meat products with iron-rich vegetarian products.
Why do pregnant women need iron?
This problem also affects one in six pregnant women, who need nearly twice as much iron as a non-pregnant woman in order to support fetal development. A lack of iron during pregnancy increases the risk of premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby, the Office on Women's Health notes.
