Iron for Women: Guide to Finding the Right Iron for You

In India, iron deficiency is classified as a major public health problem as it is estimated that 52% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age are anemic.

What can be done?

Eat foods with better iron absorption rate: A popular food item in India is beans, they have relatively high iron content, but only 2% is absorbed. The rate of absorption of iron form soybean is higher because 90% of the iron in soybeans is in the form of ferritin.

Eat foods rich in iron with vitamin C rich foods: Vitamin C is a powerful enhancer of non-heme iron absorption and can reverse the inhibiting effect of tea or calcium. Citrus foods include dark green leafy vegetables, bell peppers, oranges, amla (Indian gooseberry), melons and strawberries.

Iron supplements can be taken: Iron is a mineral that the body cannot produce and needs to take from external sources. When people consume foods which are deficient of iron or inhibit iron absorption or contains the non-heme form of iron, for a prolonged period, developing iron deficiency is anticipated. Supplementation ensures daily delivery of the nutrient.

Why iron supplementation is required?

Iron is important as it helps our red blood cells deliver oxygen, it is an essential component of hemoglobin and helps preserve many vital functions including general energy and focus, immune support, and the regulation of body temperature.

In cases of deficiency a higher dose may help. A lower daily dose like Unived’s Women's Iron will help maintain iron reserves and prevent the risk of deficiency.

Not sure if your require iron supplement? If you check one or more from the list below you definitely require it

The benefits of iron often go unnoticed until a person is not getting enough. It is a caution only when severity in symptoms occur. To meet daily needs we must consider iron supplement or ways to incorporate more iron especially if;

• The diet is restricted and/or contains only plant-based items.
• Recently undergone a surgery and experienced massive blood loss.
• Pregnant or given birth recently.
• An adolescent girl or women experiencing regular or heavy monthly menstrual cycles.
• Feels tired easily and skin appears pale.
• Follows an active or athletic lifestyle.

How to find the best iron supplement?

This can be overwhelming considering the amount of iron supplements there are to choose from. The form of iron most readily recognized by the body is heme iron (which is attached to the protein molecule of hemoglobin). Heme iron is found only in animal flesh like meat, poultry, and seafood and is a ferrous iron.

Plant iron is non-heme iron which is in ferric form and mostly goes undigested leading to multiple gastric issues.

Ferric iron is most commonly found in supplements along with other ferrous salts like ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous succinate, and ferrous sulfate. Ferrous form of iron is more close to heme iron and ferrous bisglycinate is the best tolerated.[1]

Unived’s Iron for Women

Unived’s Women’s Iron is specially formulated for women to meet 100% women’s daily requirement of iron. Each serving provides 29mg Iron as Ferrous BisGlycinate and 65mg of Vitamin C to ensure complete absorption of iron.

Because it is made up of Ferrous Bisglycinate which is an iron amino acid chelate, it has better compliance and fewer gastrointestinal tract side effects. It contains ingredients that help enhance iron absorption, storage and increase hemoglobin level better than the conventionally used iron salts.

Who should take it?

Unived’s Women’s Iron is meant to be taken by all adult women. It is a basic requirement especially if the needs increase in conditions like pregnancy, postpartum recovery, menstrual blood loss, surgery, injury, women leading an athletic lifestyle or any other phase of life that requires cell generation and maintenance.

Tips:

1. Do not consume tea or coffee immediately before or after taking iron supplement.
2. Consuming high levels of zinc, calcium, magnesium and antacids alongside iron supplement, may interfere with the absorption of iron and will result in less or no benefit of the supplement.

References:

1. Makled, Ahmed & Abuelghar, Wessam & El-Shahawy, Ahmed & elshazly, manar. (2020). Amino Acid Chelated Iron versus Ferrous Fumarate in the Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia with Pregnancy : Randomized Controlled Trial. Evidence Based Women's Health Journal. 10. 95-103. 10.21608/ebwhj.2019.18616.1045.