FATIGUE, BEING COLD, HAIR LOSS, and a PALE COPLEXION are all telltale signs of low iron, a common nutrient deficiency and a major energy zapper. As prevalent as this problem is, most cases of low iron may be flying under the radar. New research suggests that only the most severe iron insufficiency is flagged, while individuals with moderately low – but still health-impacting – levels are overlooked. Many women whose well-being is undermined by low iron are not getting the help they need.
GETTING ENOUGH
In addition to iron-rich food, iron supplements are an invaluable tool for restoring iron levels. For those of us taking pills to boost iron, it turns out we’ve been doing it all wrong! Many people who take iron divide their supplements into two or more doses each day. To them, the rationale is intuitive: if you have trouble absorbing something, take smaller amounts frequently to give your body more chances to take it in. Not so with iron. More frequent doses work against the body’s master iron regulator, hepcidin.
IRON GATE
Hepcidin is a hormone that prevents the body from absorbing excess iron to protect us from potentially dangerous iron overload. Hepcidin levels vary according to a natural daily rhythm, being at a low point in the morning and rising throughout the afternoon. In addition to this circadian cycle, a dose of iron will further spike hepcidin, to prevent over-absorption from subsequent iron intake. This means that taking iron is a one-and-done kind of deal each day, as the first dose of iron you take in the day will kibosh the second. In fact, studies show that people who take iron every other day raise their iron levels more quickly than people who take iron on consecutive days. This is likely because waiting a day between iron bumps allows hepcidin levels to bottom out.
Iron is notorious for causing stomach upset. If taking larger doses less frequently has that effect on you, investigate more tummy-friendly forms of iron. Ferrous bisglycinate and ferric pyrophosphate are types of supplemental iron that are gentler on digestion.
TIP
Remember that food rich in vitamin C will help you absorb more iron from your supplements and meals.
