Tell me about iron supplements

[poppy]

My 9 year old is tired all the time.
Her diet is very limited  (laundry list of special needs) so I'm thinking we'll try to add iron.

Is Floradix still the best way to go? What else can I try?

 

I think I'll also ask for a Lyme test. We camp and hike a lot.

[SparklyUnicorn]

Dunno, just watch for constipation if you add that...

 

 

 

 

[Crimson Wife]

Has her doctor tested her for anemia and recommended a supplement? I would be very leery of iron supplements for anyone other than a menstruating female due to the risk of hemochromatosis. My dad had a cousin who needed a liver transplant due to that condition.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[displace]

My kids have about zero iron intake per day. Well, not quite that low, but very low d/t diet.

 

You can calculate daily recommended intake and record his diet on MyFitnessPal for a few days or a week to calculate iron amount (or just on a paper). Then find the difference and supplement that amount. We use chewables from amazon, (celebrate and ez iron), one for the grape taste (celebrate), and the other for small size. If the amount needed daily is a half pill, you can just give one every other day.

 

Most doctors will want a blood test first before just starting iron, but if you calculate to a close amount the iron intake, and know what’s necessary, in a picky eater, it’s not a great leap to conclude he may need some.

[goldberry]

Black strap molasses really boosts iron because for some people it is very well absorbed compared to iron supplements.  No constipation.

 

[displace]

ETA- I have a fairly ok diet, but I tend toward easy vegetables that don’t have much iron, and lowish carb (so no fortified foods). I can go days without animal protein as well. I need a supplement to prevent anemia just because my intake is so low.

[displace]

ETA 2- if she’s tired all the time, I’d get a check up anyway to get the blood work and anything else. Pretty atypical for a 9 year old.

[displace]

ETA 3- if she has such a restrictive diet, you may be able to consult with pediatric OT feeding specialists and nutritionists (sometimes there’s a feeding clinic at childrens’ hospitals), to help give you medical help to expand the diet, if pickiness is the root cause, or whatever. Ok, no more ETAs.

[poppy]

Thanks everyone .

I’m definitely going to talk to the doc. I just know her diet will be the first thing they ask about , so trying to get ahead of that. We did a year of feeding therapy and so know the drill, but unfortunately haven’t made progress. And it could be a chicken / egg thing where she’s tired , so extra fearful, so won’t try new foods.. ahhh I just wish we could get her to eat chicken , or eggs .

[sbgrace]

Eggs have iron, but both the yolk and white have potent iron inhibitors that block iron absorption from the egg itself and any foods eaten with the egg. So no loss in terms of iron (I wish you didn't have these feeding struggles though!)

 

Iron Bisglycinate, Gentle Iron by Solgar is one form, is very absorbable, so low risk of constipation and no risk of overload. They use this form to enrich foods with iron because it's so safe. I'd recommend it if she can swallow pills. 

 

Lyme tests sound like a good plan, and you could ask for a ferritin level to check on iron too. Low iron can cause restless leg type sleep issues in kids. 

 

You might watch how she sleeps--snoring, restless, etc. to see if she has signs of apnea.

 

Allergies, and allergy meds as well, can cause fatigue here. 

Edited February 27, 2018 by sbgrace

[aaplank]

I have just started giving my daughter liver pills for the iron, one at every meal. There is no taste and it's easily absorbable. If she can't swallow pills, you can open up the capsules and sprinkle in on her food.

 

https://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/product/radiant-life-desiccated-liver/superfoods-supplements

[HS Mom in NC]

Then need to check why she's low on iron, if that's the case.  Different types of anemia have different causes.  My was extreme B-12 deficiency because I can no longer absorb it in my digestive tract, which means supplement aren't an option.  I have to have injections.  So another vote for testing before treating.

[mominco]

Poopy

Did they check her hemoglobin?Please make sure they do that..

    My dd was like that a few years ago and it was low hemoglobin and was sent to the hospital ER, 

had blood transfusion and hospitalized.Found out it was Crohns disease.  

Have you seen these?

 

https://www.katefarms.com/

 

http://absorbplus.com/

Will they help her?GL

[Tanaqui]

If you want to add iron, you might consider cooking in cast iron or using a "lucky iron fish" while cooking. But please just have your kid tested before you assume the problem is anemia :)

 

Edited February 27, 2018 by Tanaqui