Many of us can remember ads for tonics meant to cure 'iron poor blood,' but most seniors today do not need iron supplements.

Years ago, a well known tonic was sold to ward off what advertisers called 'tired blood.' The potion contained iron in an alcohol based solution and it addressed the common 'wisdom' that iron deficiency was the scourge of older individuals. Whether it was a problem then we can only guess. What is clear is that it is not a widespread problem now--and the routine use of iron supplements in unwarranted.

Iron is a mineral that is needed by the body to make red blood cells and it is used in the transport of oxygen. Without sufficient iron, the body cannot make enough normal red blood cells to support good health. This condition is called iron deficiency anemia.

Iron needs vary

The need for iron, however, varies greatly during the life cycle. Iron deficiency is more common among rapidly growing children and women in their childbearing years. Because iron is contained in blood, iron deficiency is more likely when people lose blood. Thus women who are losing blood during their monthly periods are more likely than other adults to develop iron deficiency. Medical conditions that involve blood loss such as hemorrhoids or a bleeding ulcer can also increase risk.

How much is enough?

Contrary to what many people may think, however, iron deficiency is rare in healthy older men and women in Western societies. The United States RDA for iron for men and women age 50 or older is 8 milligrams a day, an amount that is easily met by most people eating a typical Western diet. Iron is found in meat, poultry, and fish, legumes, peas, leafy dark green vegetables, and whole grain or enriched breads and cereals.

Iron deficiency not a common problem for seniors

Indeed, far from having too little iron, results from a recent study conducted by researchers at Tufts University indicate that older adults are actually more likely to have too much iron in their bodies. The researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 1,000 white men and women ages 67 to 96 participating in the Framingham Heart Study, and found that about 3% of the study group had too little iron and about 13% had too much.

This study did not determine why some study participants' iron stores were high. Nor is it clear what, if any, health problems might arise from having elevated iron stores. However, the researchers noted that "the use of non-prescription iron supplements in free-living, elderly white Americans is probably unnecessary and could be detrimental."

Check with your physician

The term "iron supplement" refers not only to specialized iron pills or liquids. Many multivitamin and mineral supplements sold over-the-counter also contain iron, although usually in a lesser amount. (Multivitamin and mineral supplements sold in the US that are specially formulated for seniors typically do not contain iron.)

If you are concerned that you are not getting enough iron, talk to your physician. If an underlying medical problem is causing iron deficiency, the problem, as well as the lack of iron, needs to be addressed. Most healthy older men and women, however, can be assured that iron deficiency is not likely to be one of the problems they need to cope with as they age.

Source

Iron Status of the free-living, elderly Framingham Heart Study cohort: an iron-replete population with a high prevalence of elevated iron stores DJ. Fleming, PF. Jacques, KL. Tucker ,  et al. , Amer J Clin Nutr , 2001, vol. 73, pp. 638--646

Links

• New Food Pyramid for People over 70
• Disease Digest - Anemia
• To quickly access additional accurate information on this and other nutrition-related topics, visit Tufts University's Nutrition Navigator