Iron and B vitamins can be taken together without difficulty. Iron and B vitamins are vital nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. Food sources such as meat and eggs are rich sources of both nutrients. If you need additional iron and B vitamins through supplementation, the two nutrients can easily be taken together. Follow your doctor's orders on the recommended amount of daily intake. Role of Iron and B Vitamins Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, require adequate and consistent intake of iron and vitamin B-12. If you have recently been diagnosed with anemia, a deficiency of iron or vitamin B-12 may the cause. Iron and vitamin B-12, along with folate, also known as vitamin B-9, are required to make healthy red blood cells. In the case you are diagnosed with anemia, your doctor may have prescribed a daily supplement of iron, folate and vitamin B-12 in addition to a diet rich in the nutrients. B vitamins also help your body turn the food you eat into energy. Iron and B-complex vitamins do not interact negatively with each other, so there are no concerns about taking the two supplements at the same time.
Sources of Iron The richest source of iron is available in seafood and lean meats. These foods contain heme iron, which is better absorbed than nonheme iron. Beans, some vegetables, fortified grains and nuts contain nonheme iron. Iron is available in several forms of supplementation. Ferrous and ferric iron salts are the most frequently found forms of iron in supplements. Calcium can interfere with iron absorption. If you take calcium supplements, take iron at a different time during the day. Sources of B Vitamins Most iron-rich foods, including meats, poultry, eggs and fortified grains, are also rich in B vitamins. While milk is not high in iron, it is a rich source of B vitamins. Absorption of vitamin B-12 largely depends on your body's capability of making intrinsic factor. If malabsorption is an issue, vitamin B-12 can be received by intramuscular injection. Vitamin B-6 supplements are absorbed well by the body but quickly eliminated in urine if not used. Considerations with Iron and B Vitamins Often, multivitamins will contain both iron and B vitamins along with several other vitamins and minerals.
Take into consideration that while iron and B vitamins can be taken together, other factors can decrease their absorption, including interactions with other nutrients and medications. If you are taking metformin, chloramphenicol, H2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors, levodopa, methotrexate, anti-epileptic medications, sulfasalazine or levothyroxine, discuss iron and B vitamins interactions with your doctor before taking any supplements. References National Institutes of Health: IronNational Institutes of Health: Vitamin B12Annual Review of Nutrition: New Insights into Erythropoiesis: The Roles of Folate, Vitamin B12, and IronA.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia: Iron Deficiency AnemiaA.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia: Anemia - B12 DeficiencyMedlinePlus: B VitaminsNational Institutes of Health: Vitamin B6 Photo Credits Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionIron and vitamin B12 are essential nutrients. They help with oxygen delivery to cells, increase immunity and improve energy and strength.
Deficiencies can lead to a number of problems and might require you to take supplements. Taking supplements if you have a deficiency won’t hurt you. If you’re not sure if you need them, talk to your doctor or a dietitian. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. This means it's not stored in the body and you must consume it every day. If you take in too much of it, your body will simply dispose of the excess in your urine. Strict vegans who eat no animal products whatsoever might need to take supplements on a regular basis. Adults need 2.4 mcg of B12 per day. Taking in too much iron can be dangerous. The danger is greater for big dosages taken in at once rather than over time. Children are at a greater risk for iron poisoning. According to the Colorado State University Extension Safefood Information Network, iron poisoning is a major cause of death for children under 6 years of age. In children, taking too much iron can cause liver damage, gastrointestinal bleeding and heart failure.
In adults, too much iron can increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems. To prevent problems, always talk to your doctor before taking iron supplements. Women 19 to 50 years of age need 18 mg of iron per day. Men over 19 need 8 mg per day. A disease called hemochromatosis causes the body to overload on iron. If you have the disease but haven’t been diagnosed, you might be at risk even if you take just small amounts of iron. People with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications should not take any iron supplements unless under medical supervision. Iron also decreases the absorption of certain drugs, such as medications to treat osteoporosis and tetracyclines antibiotics. Both iron and vitamin B12 come from similar sources, such as dairy products, meat and eggs. Because of this, it’s not rare to experience a deficiency of both at the same time, according to registered dietitian Lisa Cicciarello. Both B12 and iron deficiencies can result in anemia, so you might need to take supplements to deal with the problem.
A simple blood test can help you determine which type of anemia you have and how much you need to take, so you don’t risk taking too much. Is There Any Correlation Between Taking Iron Pills & Vitamin D Deficiency? Reasons for Getting Your Period Early Is Vitamin B12 Iron? How Does B12 Deficiency Cause Iron-Deficiency Anemia? What Is the Best Time of Day to Take an Iron Supplement? How Long Before Iron Supplements Take Effect? Risks of Iron Supplements What Strength B12 Supplement Is Right for Me? Eyesight & Iron Overload B-12 and Iron Absorption How Much Is Too Much Iron Supplement? Can Exercise Cause Breakthrough Bleeding? Signs and Symptoms of Taking Too Much Iron What Food Combinations Get More Iron? What Are Dangers of Taking Vitamin D and B Complex Together? How to Take Vitamin B-12 at Night Can Iron Supplements Make You Feel Dizzy? Can Vegan Diets Cause Skin Problems?Your body's iron is mostly in hemoglobin.
The relationship among vitamin B-12, folate and iron is a good example of the complex way in which some essential nutrients help keep your body healthy. Vitamin B-12 is indirectly responsible for raising your blood iron level to keep it in a healthy range. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your need for iron and vitamin B-12. Your Need for Iron Iron is an essential mineral that's a natural part of many foods you eat. The body of an average adult contains between 3 and 4 grams of iron, with about two-thirds of it in a compound called heme, combined with protein as hemoglobin in your red blood cells. Hemoglobin binds oxygen, carrying it through your circulation to all of your cells, which use it to fuel many basic biochemical processes that sustain life. Because of hemoglobin's ability to bind oxygen, your blood iron level is crucial for supporting the normal function of every cell in your body. Vitamin B-12 and Iron Vitamin B-12 activates an enzyme called methionine synthase that has many essential functions, including helping your body use folate, which is needed for production of new DNA during cell division.
Normally, about 1 percent of the red blood cells in your circulation are replaced by new cells each day, so that their number always remains adequate to provide oxygen to all your cells, tissues and organs. If you don't consume enough vitamin B-12, usable folate can become low, slowing production of new red blood cells in your bone marrow. Eventually, this problem can lead to low levels of iron in your blood as old red cells wear out and die but aren't effectively replaced. Healthy Levels In adults, blood levels of iron should be between 60 and 170 micrograms per deciliter, according to MedlinePlus. If you don't consume enough iron-rich foods, you might develop iron-deficiency anemia and low blood iron levels. But if your iron intake is adequate and you don't get enough vitamin B-12, you could develop a different type of anemia, called pernicious anemia, in which low B-12 levels indirectly cause low levels of iron and too few red cells in your blood. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin B-12 is 2.4 micrograms daily, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, which says that eating a healthy diet containing animal-based foods helps most people obtain enough of the vitamin.
Sources Most meats, poultry and fish are good sources of vitamin B-12. For example, a 3-ounce serving of lean beef contains about 7 micrograms, while a similar serving of mackerel provides 16 micrograms. The richest source is clams, with 84 micrograms in 3 ounces. Dairy products also contain some vitamin B-12 -- 8 ounces of skim milk provides about 1 microgram, with slightly less in cheese and eggs. Keeping your intake of iron in the recommended range of 8 milligrams for men and older women, and 18 milligrams for women who have menstrual periods, can also help your blood iron level in the right range. Good iron sources include most vegetables and fruits, along with nuts, meat and foods such as grain products that are fortified with iron. References Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin B-12Linus Pauling Institute: IronOffice of Dietary Supplements: IronAnnual Review of Nutrition: New Insights Into Erythropoeisis -- the Roles of Folate, Vitamin B-12, and IronMedlinePlus: IronOffice of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B-12 Photo Credits Siri Stafford/Photodisc/Getty Images Suggest a Correction