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Iron is an essential mineral necessary for many important
metabolic functions in the body. It is part of hemoglobin, the
oxygen-carrying component of the blood. Iron not attached to the
hemoglobin in red blood cells is stored in the liver, bone marrow,
spleen, and muscles.
A lack of iron leads to anemia. Symptoms
of anemia include severe weakness and fatigue. Pregnant women, young
women during their reproductive years, and children are most prone
to acquiring anemia. Both moderate and severe anemia may be caused
by significant or enduring blood loss started by a bleeding ulcer,
menstruation, severe trauma, surgery, or a malignant tumor. Anemia
may be due to an iron-poor diet, inability to absorb dietary iron,
pregnancy, and the rapid growth that takes place during infancy,
early childhood, and adolescence.
Conversely, too much iron
in the body can cause a condition know as hemochromatosis, which can
lead to diabetes, liver damage, and skin irregularities.
Benefits of Supplementing with
Iron
The most important reason to take iron as a
supplement is to alleviate anemia which is caused by too little iron
in the body.
In addition to anemia, iron has been used in
connection with:
- Reducing the frequency of breath-holding spells (BHS) in
children
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome
- Preventing cancer of the esophagus and stomach in those with
this syndrome.
- Diminishing learning problems and enhancing cognition in some
children and adolescents with iron deficiency.
- Increasing immunity and exercise performance
- Malaria. Although its use is limited to improving iron status,
it has no apparent effect on parasite rate or density.
- May offer some modest, indirect beneficial effects in
promotion of weight loss.
Dosage and
Administration
Kelp can be one of several
brown-colored seaweed species called Laminar. Kelp is a vegetable
found only in the sea that possesses high concentrations of useful
minerals including iodine, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron.
Laminaria as a source of iodine kelp may be useful as a supplement
for making thyroid hormones, which are required for maintaining
normal metabolism in all cells of the body.
It is common for
pre-menopausal women to experience iron deficiency with iron
supplementation. However, a small 18 mg daily dosage of iron is
often adequate to prevent such deficiency.
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