Supplement suggestions for low Iron/ferritin

[BlueBunting]

I have low Iron/Ferritin on blood test. Feel like garbage, so so tired and out of breath. Assuming GP is going to suggest supplements and I know iron seems to be not good, so any suggestions of ones i can buy that work well for people or don’t constipate/cause sickness? I’m happy to pay whatever the good stuff is.

What was the level? Why didn't they give you iron tablets?

Spatone. Natural mineral water, high in iron, kind on stomach. One sachet a day with orange juice. Vit. C helps your body absorb iron.

I got my supplements from Boots, a fancy stuff with some vitamins on my GP advice rather than going with NHS stock. I do remember I did not get constipated however I forgot the brand. Please be mindful that iron does not get absorbed easily and it takes 4-6 weeks for iron levels to improve.

Hemaplex is ok 43mg per capsule, I take it with a big glass of orange juice every other day and it seems to cause no digestive issues.

Haven’t had the appointment yet, just got my blood results. Having read previously about iron being bad and getting your own better thought would go prepared! It has been dropping for a while but now under the bottom for both iron and ferritin despite trying to improve with diet.

Ferrograd C got mine up quickly and has vit C in to help absorption . Take first thing and no caffeine for 2 hours after.

I'm sorry to be thick but how do you know its low without the result.

@Blackandwhitehorse how quick is quick

Spatone is 5mg, ferris fumerate are 210mg

3 months

Gosh!! That sounds like a long time to me!

Ferrous gluconate is less than £2 a pack in my local chemist, I’ve been advised to take one every other day and so far no nausea/constipation like I’ve had with ferrous sulphate or fumerate.

Ferrous fumerate is generally tolerated much better than sulphate. Spatone is much gentler but has less iron (you can take two sachets, and best with OJ as said above) You would probably benefit from a folic acid supplement too

"Active Iron"

Can I ask where you get it from? I can only see it online and I don't know whether they are real or fake. Thanks

Welldricks

You only absorb about 10% of the iron you ingest. Vitamin C with it helps. Caffeine interferes.

Iron can cause constipation, but not for everyone, and some people go the other way.

Personally I'd much rather take iron tablets than Spatone. I suspect Spatone is relatively easy on the stomach because it doesn't contain that much iron. However, it tastes revolting (and will make your OJ taste revolting too).

@Laptopneeded thanks for the concern i guess about really wanting to know my results! It was 9. I hope that clarifies things when i said i had the results and it was low and waiting for my GP appointment.

My levels are usually around 9 too (have been for years. Sometimes theyre 13 and i get all excited 😂). I take the ferrous whatever they're called AND floradix tablets.

I'm on a list for an infusion and to be tested for coeliacs

Thanks blue bunting.

Levels are usually 50 and above so technically 39 could be called low.

Also I'm no expert but at 9. .wouldn't be messing around with small doses like spatone?

At 49 perhaps.

Can you see how it makes quite a difference to the replies you get.

OP- why do you thinking taking iron supplements when deficient is bad???

There is a massive difference between the iron you take with a supplement you buy at a supermarket for a daily maintenance dose, as opposed to the much higher dose to correct a deficiency- which is prescribed.

For an actual deficiency where you are symptomatic, taking spatone or other over the counter ones is useless! Spatone is actually very low in iron at 5mg per sachet and it always amazes me that people on MN recommend it! Even a general multivitamin with iron is 14mg and prescribed is much higher. Spatone is like using an eye dropper to fill a pool!

Yes, diet can help, but in conjunction with the proper iron meds. Having Vit C rich food with the pills, avoiding tannin rich food with pills and trying to eat haem sources of iron (meat).

It takes 3mths for red blood cells to replicate- so its not a quick fix. I started feeling better after about a month- with a similar level to yourself. Do you know the ferritin level?

Good post from @CC4712

OP, if you are anaemic at least try a proper iron supplement.

I took two 65mg ferrous sulphate (1) tablets from Sept to Jan for my anaemia. I made the mistake of taking two together (bad mistake) and also found taking on an empty stomach worked best for me. Other than that, no problems.

Orange juice or vitamin C helps with absorption. Tea, coffee and milk don't so try to avoid them two hours either side.

(1) By contrast my normal feroglobin supplement is 17mg. As the GP said, they weren't even touching the sides of what I needed.

@Ilooklikesusiedent

A Professor of Haematology rubbished Floradix as not being good enough. Her secretary was obsessed with me being vegetarian (and therefore too stupid to work things out for myself) and demanded to know if I took Floradix. I replied nope. Never had anything wrong with my iron levels. Then she went and told me her boss said it was rubbish.

She also did a 'Spanish Inquisition' because she read about fish scales used in wine making and did I drink? Yes I did and yes I knew about the fish scales and rennet in non veggie cheese. Mind your own business!!!

I was low in ferritin but apparently not iron? This was a few years ago now. I asked about iron tablets and they (not the blasted secretary but some professionals in Cardiology) said no. It wasn't what I needed. I had to go on a drip for a little while.

Spatone all the way for me. It does have less iron than a tablet but has been proved to be much easier absorbed. Most of the tablet just isn't absorbed through the gut. When I am low in iron I take two sachets if spatone in a glass of orange juice and avoid tea/coffee for an hour either side to help absorption. It does work (for me anyway) -when pregnant and deficient I took two spatone a day and my weekly blood tests showed my iron levels going back up. I have bowel issues so this better absorption (and less gut irritation) is great for me.