Iron benefits for females
- is taking iron bad for you
- is taking iron bad for your kidneys
- is taking iron bad for your liver
- is taking iron tablets bad for you
Iron supplements!
How much iron per day for a woman
The Dark Side of Iron - Why Too Much is Harmful
Iron and risk of infection
Both iron overload and iron deficiency appear to make people more susceptible to infection (, ).
There are two reasons for this:
- The immune system uses iron to kill harmful bacteria, so some amount of iron is needed to fight infections.
- Elevated levels of free iron stimulate the growth of bacteria and viruses, so too much iron can have the opposite effect and increase the risk of infections.
Several studies indicate that iron supplementation may increase the frequency and severity of infections, although a few studies found no effects (, ).
People with hereditary hemochromatosis are also more susceptible to infections ().
For patients at a high risk of infection, iron supplementation should be a well-grounded decision.
All potential risks should be taken into account.
Summary:Iron overload and high-dose iron supplementation may increase the risk of infection in certain individuals.
The bottom line
In short, iron can be dangerous in high quantities.
However, unless
- is taking iron everyday bad for you
- is taking too much iron bad for you