Scientific Insights
Iron is well-known for its multiple beneficial functions.
The reason? It is involved in numerous bodily functions and reactions and becomes a key element for women's wellbeing especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
And that's not all. In fact, Iron supplementation is crucial also in case of Sideropenic Anemia, which is due to Iron deficiency. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), anemia is defined when hemoglobin levels in the blood are below 12 g/dL in women, and 13 g/dL in men.
It is estimated that about 7 %t of adult men and 12%of adult women worldwide have anemia. Among women, percentages significantly increase up to 20-50% during pregnancy and in case of heavy menstrual bleeding (Menorrhagia) or frequent menstrual bleeding (Polymenorrhea).
Other age groups at risk include children and adolescents, pre-menopausal women, and the elderly.
For adults, the recommended daily dose of Iron is 14 mg, but it goes up to 30 mg for women in case of pregnancy and heavy menstrual bleeding, for the elderly, and, in general, in case of debilitation.
Before moving on, let's dispel the myth of sufficient iron being supplied uniquely through food.
Of course, food can provide a good quantity of iron. But it is wrong to believe that iron deficiency can be compensated by food alone. In fact, only 5 to 10% of the Iron from food is absorbed by our intestines (non-heme iron). The percentage slightly increases for the more assimilable “heme” iron which is found in meat, fish and poultry.
Such percentage though drops significantly in people who adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet. For vegans and vegetarians, a constant supplementation is required.
Not only do pregnant or breastfeeding women or women with heavy menstrual bleeding, or vegetarians and vegans need iron supplementation. In fact, there are specific conditions that may suggest Iron deficiency.
The most common are:
- frequent and prolonged headaches or migraines,
- pale complexion and pale mucous membranes,
- fatigue and exhaustion (asthenia) even at rest,
- difficulty in breathing also at rest (dyspnea).
Other less frequent symptoms include:
- hair loss (alopecia),
- swelling of the tongue (glossitis),
- restless legs syndrome (uncomfortable sensations in your legs and an irresistible urge to move them),
- dry skin, dry and brittle nails and hair,
- frequent mouth ulcers in the corners of your mouth,
- heart murmur,
- tachycardia,
- stress, decreased performance, lack of concentration (neuro-cognitive dysfunction),
- dizziness and tinnitus (when you experience ringing or other noises in one or both of your ears),
- spoon nails (Koilonychia).
And what about Vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is necessary for the body normal development, for the formation of healthy red blood cells, for the synthesis of DNA and of myelin, a sheath-like material that forms a protective coating around nerve fibers.
Sufficient levels of Vitamin B12 are also important during pregnancy and breastfeeding as Vitamin B12 contributes to the normal development of the baby, and especially of his/her nervous system.
Vitamin B12 supplementation is also essential for vegetarians and vegans because it is hardly found in plant-based foods.
Iron and Vitamin B12 deficiencies are usually related. That's why Salugea Ferro+B12 provides them both, strictly obtained from natural sources.
Along with Iron and B12, Salugea Ferro+B12 also contains Vitamin C (from Rosehip) and Copper that promotes iron assimilation and transport. Let us now go through the scientific bibliography supporting what has been stated above.
Experimental Phytotherapy
PANMOL® Vitamin B12
Zeuschner CL, Hokin BD, Marsh KA, Saunders AV, Reid MA, Ramsay MR. Vitamin B₁₂ and vegetarian diets. Med J Aust. 2013 Aug 19;199(S4):S27-32. doi: 10.5694/mja11.11509. PMID: 25369926.
This study confirms Vitamin B12 deficiency in people following a vegetarian or vegan diet as Vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal-based foods. Researchers suggest that Vegans, and anyone who significantly avoids or limits the intake of animal-based foods, require vitamin B12-fortified foods or supplements to avoid the deficiency. Researchers also explain that Vitamin B12 deficiency has several stages and may be present even if a person does not have anaemia. Particular attention is paid to vegan or vegetarian pregnant women. In fact, Vitamin B12 is vital for the correct development of the fetus and to avoid birth defects.
Sucharita S, Dwarkanath P, Thomas T, Srinivasan K, Kurpad AV, Vaz M. Low maternal vitamin B12 status during pregnancy is associated with reduced heart rate variability indices in young children. Matern Child Nutr. 2014 Apr;10(2):226-33. doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8709.2012.00418.x. Epub 2012 May 24. PMID: 22625423; PMCID: PMC6860358.
In this study, researchers stress the importance of Vitamin B12 supplementation during pregnancy. The objective of the study was to assess the activity of the cardiac autonomic nervous system in children born to mothers with low vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy. It has been found that in children born to mothers with a lower vitamin B12 levels, the cardiac sympathetic activity is reduced.
SunActive® Fe-P80LK Liposomal
Houston BL, Hurrie D, Graham J, Perija B, Rimmer E, Rabbani R, Bernstein CN, Turgeon AF, Fergusson DA, Houston DS, Abou-Setta AM, Zarychanski R. Efficacy of iron supplementation on fatigue and physical capacity in non-anaemic iron-deficient adults: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. BMJ Open. 2018 Apr 5;8(4):e019240. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019240. PMID: 29626044; PMCID: PMC5892776.
This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials shows that Iron supplementation has positive effects on fatigue in non-anaemic iron-deficient adults. Iron supplementation has been associated with reduced subjective measures of fatigue and has significantly increased serum haemoglobin concentration.
Rioux FM, LeBlanc CP. Iron supplementation during pregnancy: what are the risks and benefits of current practices? Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2007 Apr;32(2):282-8. doi: 10.1139/H07-012. PMID: 17486170.
This article reviews current knowledge on the potential negative or positive impact of iron supplementation during pregnancy on the outcomes of both infants and mothers. Based on the literature reviewed, a low daily dose of iron (30 mg elemental iron) during pregnancy improves women's iron status and seems to protect their infants from iron-deficiency anemia (sideropenic anemia).
Rosehip - vitamin C
Khoshfetrat MR, Mortazavi S, Neyestani T, Mahmoodi MR, Zerafati-Shoae N, Mohammadi-Nasrabadi F. Iron and vitamin C co-supplementation increased serum vitamin C without adverse effect on zinc level in iron deficient female youth. Int J Prev Med. 2014 Aug;5(8):1037-44. PMID: 25489453; PMCID: PMC4258673.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of iron supplements alone and in combination with vitamin C on zinc and vitamin C status in iron-deficient female students. At the end of the study, the group on Iron + Vitamin C had increased Iron levels and no reduction in zinc stores over 12 weeks.
Thankachan P, Walczyk T, Muthayya S, Kurpad AV, Hurrell RF. Iron absorption in young Indian women: the interaction of iron status with the influence of tea and ascorbic acid. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Apr;87(4):881-6. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/87.4.881. PMID: 18400710.
Researchers evaluated the influence of the iron status of young women on iron absorption with tea or ascorbic acid. It has been demonstrated that ascorbic acid improves iron absorption, while tea exerts an inhibitory action.
Copper
Reeves PG, Demars LC, Johnson WT, Lukaski HC. Dietary copper deficiency reduces iron absorption and duodenal enterocyte hephaestin protein in male and female rats. J Nutr. 2005 Jan;135(1):92-8. doi: 10.1093/jn/135.1.92. PMID: 15623839.
This study - carried out in rats - confirmed that iron absorption in the intestines is diminished by a lack of copper in the diet.
DISCLAIMER. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition.
I nostri testi hanno scopo divulgativo, non vanno intesi come indicazione di diagnosi e cura di stati patologici e non vogliono sostituirsi in alcun modo al parere del Medico.
