Discuss the pros and cons of iron supplementation for people who are iron deficient. What are some recommendations on how to get the most from them?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

People who are iron deficient may need supplements, as well as an iron-rich, absorption-enhancing diet. Many physicians routinely recommend iron supplements to pregnant women, infants, and young children.
Iron from supplements is less well absorbed than that from food, so the doses must be high. The absorption of iron taken as ferrous sulfate is better than that from other iron supplements. Absorption also improves when supplements are taken between meals, at bedtime on an empty stomach, and with liquids (other than milk, tea, or coffee, all of which inhibit absorption). Taking iron supplements in a single dose instead of several doses per day is equally effective and may improve a person’s willingness to take it regularly.
There is no benefit to taking iron supplements with orange juice because vitamin C does not enhance absorption from supplements as it does from foods. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption by converting insoluble ferric iron in foods to the more soluble ferrous iron, and supplemental iron is already in the ferrous form. Constipation is a common side effect of iron supplementation; drinking plenty of water helps relieve this problem. The best strategy to ensure compliance is to individualize the dose, formulation, and schedule. Most importantly, iron supplements should be taken only when prescribed by a physician who has assessed an iron deficiency.