Evidence brief · Supplement
Iron for Iron-deficiency anemia
Evidence grade A — Definitional
- Overall grade
- Grade A
- Last revised
- 1
- graded outcome
- 0
- references listed
Assembled by the app from other entries in this library. It adds no evidence of its own — follow the links to the entries it draws on.
1 at grade A — 1 graded row
What is known
Each outcome with its grade (how strong the evidence is, A to D), the size of the effect where the entry records one, and how often studies agree.
- Iron-deficiency anemiaEvidence grade A
Definitional
Largehigh
The evidence in words
The verdict
For iron-deficiency anemia, Iron earns evidence grade A (large effect, high consistency) — there is real evidence here. Definitional
How it might work
Heme iron ferries oxygen in blood and muscle and shuttles electrons in mitochondria. Non-heme (plant) iron absorbs poorly and is enhanced by vitamin C and blunted by calcium, tea polyphenols, and coffee. Deficiency starves oxygen delivery and cellular energy long before anemia appears.
How to use it
Treat against a lab value under medical guidance. Emerging evidence favors alternate-day dosing (e.g., 60–120 mg elemental every other day) for better absorption and fewer side effects. Take with vitamin C, away from calcium, coffee, and tea.
Safety & cautions
Constipation and GI upset are common; overdose is dangerous, and iron is a leading cause of pediatric poisoning — store away from children. Never supplement chronically without confirmed need; hereditary hemochromatosis makes iron actively harmful.
Bottom line
Get ferritin tested before you touch it. If low, iron with vitamin C (ideally alternate-day) fixes real fatigue. If normal, skip it — more iron is not more energy.
How it is used
As the entry records it, from the studies it summarises. Not a recommendation for you — doses that suit a trial population may not suit you.
- Repletion
- 60–120 mg elemental, alternate-day, with vitamin C, under care.
Goes with
- IronRead the full Iron monographEvidence grade A
Related reading
Entries that share this one's tags or conditions.
- Iron for Fatigue with low ferritin (non-anemic)Evidence grade B — Benefit when ferritin is lowEvidence grade B
- Iron for Restless legs syndromeEvidence grade B — When iron-deficientEvidence grade B
- Iron: dosage and how to take it60–120 mg elemental, alternate-day, with vitamin C, under care.Evidence grade A
- Iron: side effects, safety & interactionsConstipation and GI upset are common; overdose is dangerous, and iron is a leading cause of pediatric poisoning — store Evidence grade A
Sources
This entry lists no references of its own — it is assembled from the entries it links to, whose sources are on their pages.
Last revised . A grade is this entry's reading of the evidence, not medical advice.