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Infant constipation and Iron supplements
I have a 7 month old daughter who is constipated ever since I started her on an iron supplement the doctor prescribed. Why is this and what can I do?
Constipation is often a side effect many people experience when taking an Iron supplement. Often the particular form of Iron can be a contributing factor and occassionally the amount of Iron ingested can also cause constipation. In general Iron sourced from vegetable ingredients will not cause constipation whereas Iron sourced from animal origin may. It is recommended to divide the amount of Iron throughout the day rather than take the full dosage at once. Optimal absorption of Iron requires co-factors such as B Vitamins, folic acid and Vitamin C to improve its absorption, it is therefore recommended to take an Iron supplement with a glass of orange juice. Vitamin C also helps to stimulate bowel clearance. Taking it with orange juice can also offset any constipation problems.
Forms of Iron, absorption and effect
- Ferrous Sulfate (Iron Sulfate) is an inorganic form of Iron that consists of Iron bound to Sulfur, it is a less desirable form of Iron supplement as it may cause constipation and nausea.
- Ferrous Fumarate (Iron Fumarate) consists of Iron bound to Fumaric Acid.
- Heme Iron (Haem Iron) is Iron bound to Protein. Heme Iron can be obtained from the diet from animal sources - e.g. Meats. 20 - 30% of orally-ingested Heme Iron is absorbed by the human body. It is regarded as a relatively safe form of Iron, however it can cause constipation.
- Iron Citrate consists of Iron bound to Citric Acid. This form of Iron is well tolerated by sensitive gastrointestinal tracts.
- Iron Picolinate consists of Iron bound to Picolinic Acid. Some researchers regard Iron Picolinate as the optimal form of Iron supplementation in regards to absorption.
Daily intake of Iron for children
- 0 to 3 months - 1.7 mg
- 4 to 6 months - 4.3 mg
- 7 to 12 months - 7.8 mg
- 1 to 3 yrs - 6.9 mg
- 4 to 6 yrs - 6.1 mg
- 7 to 10 yrs - 8.7 mg
Foods which contain Iron
- Red meats, organic Chicken and Eggs, Seafood, Fish and Pork
- Nuts and seeds (Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, Sunflower seeds, Sesame seeds and Tahini)
- Dried fruits (Apricots, Dates, Raisins, Prunes and Figs)
- Green leafy vegetables (Spinach, Kale, Rocket, Raddichio, Artichokes, Rhubarb, Broccoli, Chard, Cabbage, Parsley and other dark green herbs such as Yellow Dock)
- Grains, legumes and cereals (Barley, Lentils, Whole Grains and Oats)
- Dried Beans (Lima Beans, Kidney Beans, Navy Beans, Soy Beans, Chick Beans, Pinto Beans and Black Eye Beans)
- Ginger and Strawberries
- Tofu
Speak to a Healthcare professional in a health food store and enquire which types they sell. Ethical nutrients make a supplement called Iron Plus - http://www.ethicalnutrients.com.au/content/products/iron-plus
A vegetable based Iron liquid tonic for children is Floradix Floravital - http://salusuk.com/index.html] http://salusuk.com/index.html
And another formula is from SpaTone - http://www.spatone.com/shop-online/
Please also see the Ask a Naturopath.com webpage concerning Iron:
http://www.askanaturopath.com.au/faqs/iron-deficiency/p/269