Understanding Anemia & Iron Overload

Anemia Symptoms
Anemia can cause low energy, pale appearance, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, drowsiness and soreness in the mouth. First signs of slowly developing anemia are loss of appetite, headaches, constipation, irritability and difficulty in concentration. In women anemia could cause cessation of menstruation.

Anemia Possible Causes
Some possible causes for anemia are; drug use, hormonal disorders, surgery, infections, peptic ulcers, hemorrhoids, heavy menstrual bleeding, diverticular disease, repeated pregnancies, liver damage, thyroid disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, bone marrow disease, irradiation, and dietary deficiencies. Aspirin intake in elderly people may cause internal bleeding.
Hookworms can also cause anemia especially in children. One hookworm can deplete the body of 1cc of blood daily. These roundworm larvae can cross the placenta into the unborn child during pregnancy. A diet devoid of animal products is usually low in iron and may not supply adequate amounts of iron for normal growth. These and other probable causes can result in depletion of the body’s iron stores, also known as reserve iron. Loss of reserve iron is followed by biochemical, and then clinical, iron deficiency.

More Information on Anemia & Iron
Iron is different from most other minerals. It is not as easily lost from the body through the kidneys or via the stool such as other minerals like magnesium, potassium and calcium. The body according to need tightly regulates iron absorption. The average western diet contains about 20mg of iron per day, but only 3 to 5 percent of dietary iron is actually absorbed.
Men absorb a minimum of about .6mg to 1mg of iron daily. Women absorb slightly more than the male minimum. The inadequate rate of absorption just about balances the daily iron loss, which is less than 1mg. 20mg daily is a reasonable amount of supplemental iron. What the body needs is simply not absorbed. Large quantities of supplementation will likely cause gastrointestinal effects if taken over long periods of time

Stages of pathology for positive iron balance (to much iron or Hemochromatosis) progress in similar ways resulting in failure of overloaded iron-storage in organs (liver, spleen, and small intestine).

Foods that Contain Iron
Liver, Beef, Black Strap Molasses, Kelp, Brewers Yeast, Wheat Bran, Pumpkin Seeds, Wheat Germ, Sunflower Seeds, Millet, Parsley, Almonds, Dried Prunes, Cashews, Raisins, Jerusalem Artichokes, Brazil Nuts, Beet Greens, Swiss Chard, Dandelion Greens, English Walnuts and Dates.

Other Suggestions
Avoid antacids as they interfere with iron absorption and if necessary should be taken separately from calcium and zinc supplements. Daily iron supplements should not exceed 30mg daily fro adults. For children check with your doctor.

Iron Supplement Suggestions
· Iron Fumarate tablets
· Iron Gluconate tablets
· Ferrous Lactate (iron lactate)
· Parasite Cleanse from Spirit of Healing to destroy hook worms a known source of iron loss
· Basic Preventive 5 with Iron from AMNI available by phone order.
· Liqui-Min (liquid trace minerals) from Daily
· Mineral Insurance Formula from Bronson
· Ferro Tonic (liquid iron supplement) from Daily available by phone order.

Iron Overload (hemochromatosis)

Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis or Iron Overload is a rare disorder in which iron deposits build up throughout the body. It can be detected by a routine chemistry screening which includes readout of the amount of iron concentration in a patient’s blood. If the test shows an extremely elevated serum iron level a physician can measure for serum ferritin concentration. If ferritin is elevated then the physician can order the patient to undergo a liver biopsy. The liver biopsy can help determine if the patient is suffering from Hemochromatosis or Iron Overload.

Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
Symptoms include; enlarged liver, Skin discoloration, diabetes, mellitus and heart failure. These symptoms are potential complications of Iron Overload.
This disease most often develops in men over forty years of age. Other symptoms include; Elevation of heart palpitations, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, slowing of the heart rate and fluttering of atrial valve.

Possible Causes of Iron Overload
Being a carrier of the Hemochromatosis gene can lead to this disorder. Taking excessive amounts of iron supplements. Anything over 20mg daily can be excessive. Iron Overload can also occur during certain medical conditions in which red blood cells are destroyed too rapidly by the spleen therefore releasing the hemoglobin from the destroyed red blood cells. This can also be seen in a yellow skin discoloration due to the excessive production of bilirubin, the substance released when red blood cells are destroyed. Other adverse effects of taking to much iron as a supplement are that it competes with zinc for uptake into the body. This can be dangerous during pregnancy and is a good reason for carefully monitoring iron levels during pregnancy.