Would a low dose iron supplement be enough to cause dark stools?

[Tygertiger]

I’ve been turned away from giving blood a couple of times due to low iron, so I’ve recently started taking the iron energy supplement from Nutrition Geek. I picked it deliberately as not being a huge dose - it’s 42mg of ferrous fumarate, to give 14mg of iron, which is 100% of the daily RDA. I’ve noticed dark green/dark brown stools a few times recently since taking them. I know that black stools are to be expected with prescription strength iron, but would a low dose tablet also cause these changes or do I need to ask the GP?

I’ve taken that one and had the same
why would you want a low dose though? It takes a fair amount of iron to actually bring your levels up
i take ferrous fumerate which gives me 198mg elemental iron a day - still got low iron!

Can do in me. I take Feroglobin usually. If I've forgotten for a week or so then start up again things seem to get a bit darker to begin with. Especially if I've been eating a lot of spinach or similar at the same time.

Thanks - I thought a low dose might be better in terms of fewer side effects?

Have you been eating blueberries too ? I spaent a weekend worrying about dark stools. I then remembered I'd eaten loads of blueberries that were about to go out of date.

A few, I eat frozen fruit for breakfast a lot but I’ve not had this before with it.

It'll be the iron. Simple way to test could be to stop taking it for a few days/a week

Best way is to take it every other day with 1000mg vitamin c

It’s probably the iron but do you actually know why your iron is low? It usually means you’re bleeding from somewhere so best to get it checked.

It’s not abnormally low - it’s just too low to give blood but still within normal range. They have high thresholds to prevent anaemia.

are you definitely iron deficient? I thought they usually only checked haemoglobin at the donation centres rather than iron studies?

I’ve been using Boots max stength gentle iron, I’ve not had any side effects.

It's the iron tablets.

Yes, that’s what I meant. I don’t think I’m actually deficient but my haemoglobin has been too low to donate the last two times I’ve been. I thought it might help to take supplements.

Just found this thread as wondered the same- started taking feroglobin capsules 3 days ago and just noticed very dark stool...seems common after asking doctor google.