Why do iron tablets give me stomach problems?

I was told by the doctor that I have low iron counts and need a

supplement many times

There are only two kinds of iron in the diet or the supplements that we can absorb and use.

Heme iron is iron bound to the natural hemoglobin structure and is found in meat courses.

Non-heme iron is the type of iron found in plants and synthetic supplements.

Non-heme iron must be broken down in the stomach, so the iron ions can be absorbed by the stomach lining into the body.

The uptake of this free iron is rather low, only 2-4 % is absorbed. The rest will remain in the stomach. Free iron ions are very reactive and will cause disturbancies.

The stomach lining will absorb the biological hemoglobin structure containing heme iron as a complete structure, without breaking it down.

After absorption heme iron is released, transported by the blood and can be used by the body.

This means there are no reactive free iron ions in the stomach.

Actually free iron ions do not exist in nature.

When they are released in the process of for instance eating iron-rich vegetables such as broccoli there is so little iron ions released that it has virtually no impact.

The problem appears when we consume strong non-heme iron syntethic medications or supplements.

In this situation a lot of free iron ions are released in the stomach.

This is why non-heme oral supplements or medications often give stomach problems.

The solution to this is the OptiFer® series of supplements by FerroCare/MediTec containing heme iron.They have a side-effects profile like placebo.

They are safe and very effective. Also over time.