This blog post will walk you through: what is iron vitamins good for.
Contents
F iron can lead to iron deficiency anaemia . Iron is important in making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. The amount of iron you need is:
8.7mg a day for men over 18
14.8mg a day for women aged 19 to 50
8.7mg a day for women over 50
You should be able to get all the iron you need from your daily diet.
Women who lose a lot of blood during their monthly period (heavy periods) are at higher risk of iron deficiency anaemia and may need to take iron supplements. Speak to a GP or a registered dietitian for more advic.
Recommended Intake
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for elemental iron depends on a person’s age and sex.
Vegetarians also have different iron requirements. Infants: 0 to 6 months: 0.27 milligrams (mg)
7 to 12 months: 11 mg Children: 1 to 3 years: 7 mg
4 to 8 years: 10 mg Males: 9 to 13 years: 8 mg
14 to 18 years: 11 mg
19 years and older: 8 mg Females: 9 to 13 years: 8 mg
14 to 18 years: 15 mg
19 to 50 years: 18 mg
51 years and older: 8 mg
During pregnancy: 27 mg
When lactating between 14 and 18 years of age: 10 mg
When lactating at older than 19 years: 9 mg Iron supplements can be helpful when people find it difficult to take in enough iron through only dietary measures, such as in a plant-based diet.
Why Do You Need Iron?
Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body.
If you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t make enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Without healthy red blood cells, your body can’t get enough oxygen. That exhaustion can affect everything from your brain function to your immune system’s ability to fight off infections.
If you’re pregnant, severe iron deficiency may increase your baby’s risk of being born too early, or smaller than normal. “Iron is also necessary to maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails,” says Elaine Chottiner, MD, clinical assistant professor and director of General Hematology Clinics at the University of Michigan Medical Center said in an email intervie.
Why Do People Take Iron?
Iron supplements are most often used for certain types of anemia.
Anemia can cause fatigue and other symptoms. If you have symptoms of anemia, seek care from your health care provider. Iron supplements are often prescribed to treat anemia caused by:
Pregnancy
Heavy menstrual periods
Kidney disease
Chemotherapy
Those who may be at risk for iron deficiency include preterm infants, young children, teenage girls, and pregnant women, as well as people with certain health conditions including chronic heart failure, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease and ulcerative colitis.