Ferrous Sulfate as an Aid in Iron Deficiency Anemia

Ferrous Sulfate as an Aid in Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract: Ferrous Sulfate is often used for iron supplementation due to its numerous health benefits. Iron deficiency is directly linked to anemia; a nutritional disorder causing such effects as weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and poor performance. Iron supplements have been shown to help reduce the effects of this deficiency among the population with inadequate intake of this essential mineral in their diet.

Keywords: Iron, Anemia, Deficiency, Supplement

“Up to 80% of the world's population may be iron deficient, and 30% may have iron deficiency anemia.”1 Iron is a key component of hemoglobin and an essential mineral that our bodies need in order to help blood and muscles deliver oxygen to the body’s cells so that our organs can function properly.1

Anemia is a disorder caused by low levels of iron in the blood, which may be caused by a variety of different factors such as heavy menstruation, pregnancy, blood donation, bleeding ulcers, surgery, and simply a lack of iron in a persons diet.1 Symptoms of this condition include weakness, fatigue, problems concentrating, pale skin, headaches, low body temperature, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, vulnerability for infections, impaired performance, and overall poor health.2 Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world, but the people most at risk of developing it are young children, women, dieters, athletes and vegetarians. 3

There are various ways for an anemic to cope with their ailment; the most obvious being to simply incorporate more iron-rich foods into their diets. However, iron supplements are gaining popularity since they are considered a convenient fix for mild anemia “when diet alone cannot restore deficient iron levels to normal.”4 Of course, only a fraction of iron gets absorbed into the body, but consumption of vitamin C along with supplementation is said to aid the absorption process. These...