Iron is essential to life and supports many functions in the human body. Iron is crucial in forming haemoglobin which supports oxygen transport around the body. In this blog, we will cover:

The signs that your iron supplements are working

It can be challenging to know if your iron supplements are working. It is essential to remember Iron is in the body in two ways. Iron in our liver as storage and transport or circulating (haemoglobin) in our blood. When our iron intake is low, our storage iron drops first, having lower Iron reserves. It can take up to 3 months to replenish storage iron.

As tiredness or a lack of energy (fatigue) is commonly associated with a diet low in Iron, it is likely to be the first change you notice when you take an iron supplement” (2). If your iron supplement is working, you should notice an increase in energy levels; however, when this will occur varies from person to person. It is dependent on your levels of iron in storage and circulation.

When your iron supplement works, you should have more energy, better concentration, and a healthier immune system (3).

What are the signs your iron pills are working?

The signs your iron pills are working are as follows:

  • You will feel that you have more energy
  • Your ability to concentrate may improve
  • You will have a healthier immune system

 

 

What are the signs that your iron pills are not working?

If your iron supplements are not working, you may experience the following*:

  • You may continue to experience tiredness and fatigue (even after 90 days)
  • You may have poor concentration
  • You may have a weaker immune system
  • Your iron levels may be lower than optimum levels

To learn more about iron supplement side effects, click here.

How do I know how much Iron I need in my supplements?

Our daily requirement for Iron depends on several factors; Women of child-bearing age have the highest need for Iron, with a daily requirement of 14.8mg. Whilst Men and post-menopausal women have a daily requirement of 8.7 mg (5).

It is important to ensure your supplement is giving you a sufficient amount of Iron. Some people experience side effects, especially higher-dose iron pills resulting from poor absorption. The unabsorbed Iron becomes oxidised and causes gut irritation, resulting in side effects such as constipation and nausea.

Is your iron supplement working well for you?

If you are not getting enough iron from your diet alone, an iron supplement can help your iron levels. An iron supplement that works well should be easy to take with no side effects, and you should have a noticeable increase in your energy levels.

When choosing an iron supplement, it is essential to choose one strong on absorption whilst gentle on the stomach.

With its ground-breaking protein formula, Active Iron delivers higher absorption of iron than other oral iron products on the market, whilst its non-constipating formula helps to reduce gut irritationIronm Iron (6).

 

 

Signs That Your Iron Pills Are Working – FAQ:

 

How to know if iron supplements are working?

The best way to determine whether iron pills are working is to check your ferritin levels via a blood test. A ferritin test will show how much iron your body stores. 

What are the signs that iron pills are working?

Iron helps support your energy levels, therefore you should expect to feel less tiredness and fatigue. Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels by 94%* in 6 weeks, but many start to feel the benefits earlier than that. Iron also helps support cognitive function and immunity so should experience better concentration and a healthier immune system. 

Do iron pills give you energy?

Iron pills don’t work for everyone, but they do help support energy levels and reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue. The body needs iron to produce red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. If you experience ongoing tiredness and fatigue, consider taking an iron supplement such as Active Iron.


(1) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/iron/, accessed May 2020

(2) Tiredness/Fatigue may be a symptom of other conditions. You should contact a health care professional if it persists.

(3) Iron helps support your energy metabolism, supports cognitive function and supports your immune system.

(4) These symptoms may be signs of other conditions. You should contact a health care professional if they persist.

(5) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/iron/, accessed May 2020.

(6) Wang et al., Acta Haematologica 2017

*Ledwidge et al. Data on file.