How much iron is too much in a day?

How much iron is too much in a day?

At high doses, iron is toxic. For adults and children ages 14 and up, the upper limit — the highest dose that can be taken safely — is 45 mg a day. Children under age 14 should not take more than 40 mg a day.

Can taking too much iron be harmful?

Can iron be harmful? Yes, iron can be harmful if you get too much. In healthy people, taking high doses of iron supplements (especially on an empty stomach) can cause an upset stomach, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and fainting. High doses of iron can also decrease zinc absorption.

What are the symptoms of too much iron?

Symptoms

• tiredness or fatigue.
• weakness.
• weight loss.
• abdominal pain.
• high blood sugar levels.
• hyperpigmentation, or the skin turning a bronze color.
• a loss of libido, or sex drive.
• in males, reduction in the size of the testicles.

Is it bad to take iron everyday?

Adults shouldn’t take any more than 45 mg of iron a day unless they are being treated with iron under close medical supervision. For children, iron overdose can be especially toxic. “Iron supplements have killed young children because their needs for iron compared to an adult’s are relatively low,” Thomas says.

How much iron does it take to overdose?

Iron toxicity can be caused by taking high doses of iron supplements for prolonged periods of time, or by taking a single overdose. Single doses as low as 10 to 20 mg/kg can cause some symptoms of iron toxicity. Medical attention is required at doses greater than 40 mg/kg, and more than 60 mg/kg can be lethal.

Can too much iron make you dizzy?

Iron supplements can cause side effects like dizziness, fainting, and hives. Too many iron supplements can cause long-term side effects like liver damage and heart disease. If you want to take iron supplements, talk to your doctor about finding the proper dosage for you.

How does the body get rid of excess iron?

As red cells break down over time, the iron in the hemoglobin is released. Your body has no natural way to rid itself of excess iron, so extra iron is stored in body tissues. That’s why patients receiving transfusions are at risk for iron overload.

Can too much iron cause fainting?

What happens if you take iron pills and don t need them?

Iron supplements can help if you are deficient, but you don’t need them if your iron levels are fine. In fact, too much iron can be toxic so taking supplements when you don’t need them can make you very unwell and possibly lead to a potentially deadly overdose – especially for young children.

What happens if you take 2 iron pills a day?

Frequently taking iron supplements that contain more than 20 mg of elemental iron at a time can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain, especially if the supplement is not taken with food. In severe cases, iron overdoses can lead to organ failure, internal bleeding, coma, seizure, and even death.

Can too much iron affect your brain?

Gradually, the excess iron accumulates in internal organs, causing potentially fatal damage to the brain and liver. The long-term ingestion of high-dose supplements may gradually cause symptoms similar to iron overload, which is discussed more below.

Why too much iron can be dangerous?

Medical experts say that if you have hemachromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes you to absorb too much iron, taking an iron supplement can be deadly. Iron overload may lead to liver damage. And some scientists believe that too much iron may increase the risk of heart disease and possibly cancer.

What are the side effects of too much iron?

Gastrointestinal Side Effects. Consuming too much iron may produce gastrointestinal side effects such as heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, discomfort, nausea, liver damage, vomiting blood, black and bloody stools and metallic taste in your mouth.

What is the effect of too much iron in my diet?

Signs of consuming excess iron include dizziness, fatigue, headache, weight loss, vomiting, nausea, gray skin and shortness of breath. Consuming too much iron also makes it harder for your body to absorb zinc. Over time, an excess of iron can damage your liver and other organs and cause arthritis and heart problems.

What can too much iron do to the human body?

Having too much iron in your blood leads to a number of health and organ problems. First, it could damage your liver. Your heart is also at risk. Another effect of too much iron in your blood is the likelihood of developing arthritis and diabetes. Iron overload is treatable. Without treatment, your body continues accumulating iron.