Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIron and ConstipationManaging ConstipationDifferent Use CasesLeast Constipating FormWhen to Avoid SupplementsSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Iron and Constipation
Managing Constipation
Different Use Cases
Least Constipating Form
When to Avoid Supplements
Seeking Medical Care
Some iron supplements can causeconstipation. Iron is a mineral that your body uses to makehemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell in your body. Because the human body does not produce iron, we must get this mineral from food.
Some people have a hard time keeping their iron at healthy levels. You may need an iron supplement if you can’t increase iron levels through your diet.
This article will explore the link between iron and constipation.
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
Understanding the Link Between Iron and Constipation
Constipation is a frequent side effect of takingiron supplements, but the exact mechanism that links iron and constipation is unclear. Researchers believe that extra iron in the stomach may cause water to move into the intestines. This activity takes water away from the lower intestine, causing stools to become harder.
Tips for Managing Constipation While Taking Iron Supplements
If you’re diagnosed withiron deficiency, increasing iron-rich foods may not be enough to get your iron to healthy levels. If you have to take iron supplements, some ways to prevent or alleviate constipation include:
Additional Methods to Ease Constipation
Discuss other treatment options with a healthcare provider if diet, adequate liquids, and physical activity don’t help ease constipation. There are over-the-counter medications that help with constipation, including:
Iron is best absorbed on an empty stomach, which may cause gastrointestinal symptoms like constipation. Try taking your iron with a little bit of food.Consider alternative ways to take iron, such as intravenous (IV) iron, or talk to a healthcare provider about switching to an iron supplement that is gentler on your stomach.
Combating Iron Constipation for Different Use Cases
If you experience constipation from iron supplementation, talk to a healthcare provider for strategies to combat constipation. They may recommend the following:
The following conditions and eating patterns commonly benefit from iron supplementation.
Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Iron-deficiency anemiais the most common type of anemia with various causes—heavy menstrual bleeding being the primary cause in people who menstruate. If you have this type of anemia, a provider may recommend incorporating iron-rich foods into your diet or including an iron supplement.
Pregnancy
Pregnant people often require additional iron since some of their blood supply is shared with the fetus.If you haveiron deficiency during pregnancy, a healthcare provider may recommend diet changes, exercise, or a different iron supplement. In some cases, certain laxatives are beneficial, but it’s crucial to consult a provider before taking them, as they can have adverse effects on your pregnancy.
Vegetarian or Vegan Diets
Nonheme iron—the type found in plants—is harder for the body to absorb and is available in smaller quantities per serving. If you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet pattern, you may require iron supplementation.
17 Iron-Rich Vegetarian Meals
Which Form of Iron is Least Constipating?
Iron supplements are made from different forms of iron. Each form offers a different amount of elemental iron, the amount of iron your body absorbs.Supplements with higher elemental iron are more likely to cause stomach issues like constipation.Below are some common forms of iron and the amount of elemental iron a dose of each contains:
Ferrous sulfate is the most commonly used form of iron in supplements.
When Not to Take Iron Supplements
Certain medications and supplements should not be taken with iron. Here are some common examples:
If you need to take iron supplements, tell your healthcare provider about all medications and supplements you take. They will create the best treatment plan for you.
In addition, if you do not have iron deficiency, do not take iron supplements. Too much iron can cause health problems, such as stomach ulcers and decreased zinc absorption. Very high doses can lead to severe consequences, such as organ failure, coma, or death.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Sometimes, constipation can be a sign of a serious health condition, like colorectal cancer. Make an appointment to see a healthcare provider if your symptoms haven’t improved within a week or you notice these symptoms:
Summary
If you need to take iron supplements, eat fiber-rich foods, drink plenty of water, and stay physically active. Too much iron can lead to constipation. You may consider training yourself to have daily bowel movements. You can take stool softeners or fiber supplements if diet changes don’t ease constipation.
Call your healthcare provider if your symptoms last longer than a week or if you have blood in your stool.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Iron.Parvataneni S, Maw M.Ileus due to iron pills: a case report and literature report on the importance of stool softeners.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8392. doi:10.7759/cureus.8392.National Institutes of Health.Constipation.American Society of Hematology.Iron deficiency anemia.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Iron.American Pregnancy Association.Constipation during pregnancy.Harvard School of Public Health.Iron.Milman N, Jønsson L, Dyre P, Pedersen PL, Larsen LG.Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial.J Perinat Med. 2014;42(2):197-206. doi:10.1515/jpm-2013-0153Alleyne M, Horne MK, Miller JL.Individualized treatment for iron deficiency anemia in adults.Am J Med. 2008;121(11):943-948. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.07.012Womack R, Berru F, Panwar B, Gutiérrez OM.Effect of ferric citrate versus ferrous sulfate on iron and phosphate parameters in patients with iron deficiency and ckd.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020;15(9):1251-1258. doi:10.2215/CJN.15291219Bloor SR, Schutte R, Hobson AR.Oral iron supplementation—gastrointestinal side effects and the impact on the gut microbiota.Microbiology Research. 2021;12(2):491-502. doi:10.3390/microbiolres12020033National Institutes of Health.Concerned about constipation?
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institutes of Health.Iron.Parvataneni S, Maw M.Ileus due to iron pills: a case report and literature report on the importance of stool softeners.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8392. doi:10.7759/cureus.8392.National Institutes of Health.Constipation.American Society of Hematology.Iron deficiency anemia.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Iron.American Pregnancy Association.Constipation during pregnancy.Harvard School of Public Health.Iron.Milman N, Jønsson L, Dyre P, Pedersen PL, Larsen LG.Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial.J Perinat Med. 2014;42(2):197-206. doi:10.1515/jpm-2013-0153Alleyne M, Horne MK, Miller JL.Individualized treatment for iron deficiency anemia in adults.Am J Med. 2008;121(11):943-948. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.07.012Womack R, Berru F, Panwar B, Gutiérrez OM.Effect of ferric citrate versus ferrous sulfate on iron and phosphate parameters in patients with iron deficiency and ckd.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020;15(9):1251-1258. doi:10.2215/CJN.15291219Bloor SR, Schutte R, Hobson AR.Oral iron supplementation—gastrointestinal side effects and the impact on the gut microbiota.Microbiology Research. 2021;12(2):491-502. doi:10.3390/microbiolres12020033National Institutes of Health.Concerned about constipation?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institutes of Health.Iron.Parvataneni S, Maw M.Ileus due to iron pills: a case report and literature report on the importance of stool softeners.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8392. doi:10.7759/cureus.8392.National Institutes of Health.Constipation.American Society of Hematology.Iron deficiency anemia.National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Iron.American Pregnancy Association.Constipation during pregnancy.Harvard School of Public Health.Iron.Milman N, Jønsson L, Dyre P, Pedersen PL, Larsen LG.Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial.J Perinat Med. 2014;42(2):197-206. doi:10.1515/jpm-2013-0153Alleyne M, Horne MK, Miller JL.Individualized treatment for iron deficiency anemia in adults.Am J Med. 2008;121(11):943-948. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.07.012Womack R, Berru F, Panwar B, Gutiérrez OM.Effect of ferric citrate versus ferrous sulfate on iron and phosphate parameters in patients with iron deficiency and ckd.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020;15(9):1251-1258. doi:10.2215/CJN.15291219Bloor SR, Schutte R, Hobson AR.Oral iron supplementation—gastrointestinal side effects and the impact on the gut microbiota.Microbiology Research. 2021;12(2):491-502. doi:10.3390/microbiolres12020033National Institutes of Health.Concerned about constipation?
National Institutes of Health.Iron.
Parvataneni S, Maw M.Ileus due to iron pills: a case report and literature report on the importance of stool softeners.Cureus. 2020;12(6):e8392. doi:10.7759/cureus.8392.
National Institutes of Health.Constipation.
American Society of Hematology.Iron deficiency anemia.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Iron.
American Pregnancy Association.Constipation during pregnancy.
Harvard School of Public Health.Iron.
Milman N, Jønsson L, Dyre P, Pedersen PL, Larsen LG.Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial.J Perinat Med. 2014;42(2):197-206. doi:10.1515/jpm-2013-0153
Alleyne M, Horne MK, Miller JL.Individualized treatment for iron deficiency anemia in adults.Am J Med. 2008;121(11):943-948. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2008.07.012
Womack R, Berru F, Panwar B, Gutiérrez OM.Effect of ferric citrate versus ferrous sulfate on iron and phosphate parameters in patients with iron deficiency and ckd.Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020;15(9):1251-1258. doi:10.2215/CJN.15291219
Bloor SR, Schutte R, Hobson AR.Oral iron supplementation—gastrointestinal side effects and the impact on the gut microbiota.Microbiology Research. 2021;12(2):491-502. doi:10.3390/microbiolres12020033
National Institutes of Health.Concerned about constipation?
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