For adults who are not pregnant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 50-60 mg of oral elemental iron twice daily for three months for the therapeutic treatment of iron deficiency anemia.1 However, this dosing regimen has recently been questioned.

If your brand of iron supplement also contains folic acid, be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia) before taking it.

Taking daily iron supplements can help manage iron deficiency anemia, though high doses can cause some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and dark stools. Iron is a...

For adult males, a value of fewer than 13.5 grams per deciliter (gm/dl) of hemoglobin indicates iron deficiency anemia. For females, iron deficiency anemia is denoted by a hemoglobin value of fewer than 12 grams per deciliter.

Iron deficiency and anemia have serious consequences, especially for children and pregnant women. Iron salts are commonly provided as oral supplements to prevent and treat iron deficiency, despite poor bioavailability and frequently reported adverse ...