What happens if you take too much iron supplements

Iron is a trace element in the body. Proper iron supplementation is beneficial to blood circulation and the body's metabolism. However, if the amount exceeds a certain amount, some adverse consequences will occur, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, frequent diarrhea and abdominal pain, and finally iron poisoning and severe dehydration. The accumulation of iron can cause irreversible damage to other nutrients in the body and destroy physical health. Let’s find out.

1. What happens if you take too much iron?

Iron deficiency in the human body can cause iron deficiency syndrome, but too much iron in the body can also cause damage to the human body and cause iron poisoning.

2. What happens if pregnant women take too much iron?

1. Gastrointestinal discomfort

If pregnant women take too much iron supplements, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and may also cause constipation. In addition, pregnant women may also feel nausea or diarrhea. Therefore, when pregnant mothers experience these discomforts during the iron supplementation process, they must remember to see a doctor first. In order to avoid worsening of these discomforts, they can reduce the amount of iron supplementation appropriately.

2. Cause disease

If pregnant women take excessive iron supplements, the amount of iron in their bodies will increase. Through research, it can be found that if there is too much iron in the body, it is more dangerous than high cholesterol. It can easily cause women to suffer from pregnancy-related heart disease and hepatitis B and other diseases. In addition, if the iron content is too high, it may cause rare genetic diseases, including thalassemia and bronze diabetes. Also, if you use iron supplements randomly, it can make rheumatoid arthritis worse. Therefore, pregnant women must be careful when supplementing iron and go to the hospital regularly to check blood routine, serum iron and other related biochemical indicators.

3. Best time for pregnant women to supplement iron

After pregnancy, women's demand for iron will increase, so starting from the early stages of pregnancy, especially in the second month after pregnancy, you should pay attention to iron intake. Pregnant mothers can usually get iron from iron-rich foods. By the middle and late stages of pregnancy, not only does the pregnant woman's own demand for iron increase greatly, but the developing baby and placenta also need more iron supplements. The specific form and time of iron supplementation in the second and third trimesters depends on the individual's iron deficiency situation. During the prenatal check-up, pregnant mothers will undergo a routine blood test, and the doctor will develop an iron supplement plan based on your test results. When iron deficiency occurs, you can take some iron supplements while supplementing your diet, but it should not be taken for too long. Generally, you should go to the hospital to check your iron supplementation status after taking it for about half a month. Once it returns to normal levels, you should stop taking it.