different types of iron
Did you know there are a lot of different types of iron? There are, and some are absorbed better than others.
After RNY, we don't have a lot of stomach acid. That's why we need calcium citrate instead of carbonate, by the way. You need lots of stomach acid to break down calcium carbonate so it can be absorbed but we just don't have enough.
You need a fair amount of stomach acid to absorb certain types of iron, including ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluctonate and ferrous fumerate. You'll absorb some of those, it's just hard to say how much.
You do not need much stomach acid at all to absorb carbonyl iron, though. So we absorb it better.
Also, ferrous sulfate and similar types of iron contain a lot of iron salts. That's why 325 mg ferrous sulfate only has 65 mg elemental iron. Carbonyl, on the other hand, is all elemental iron. Those iron salts cause a lot of constipation in many people. Carbonyl iron is much, much less likely to interfere with your ability to poop.
Now, there is also heme iron, which is a whole other thing. It's absorbed really well but it's expensive. I don't know much about it; Andrea is the person to ask if you wanna know more.
Kelly
After RNY, we don't have a lot of stomach acid. That's why we need calcium citrate instead of carbonate, by the way. You need lots of stomach acid to break down calcium carbonate so it can be absorbed but we just don't have enough.
You need a fair amount of stomach acid to absorb certain types of iron, including ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluctonate and ferrous fumerate. You'll absorb some of those, it's just hard to say how much.
You do not need much stomach acid at all to absorb carbonyl iron, though. So we absorb it better.
Also, ferrous sulfate and similar types of iron contain a lot of iron salts. That's why 325 mg ferrous sulfate only has 65 mg elemental iron. Carbonyl, on the other hand, is all elemental iron. Those iron salts cause a lot of constipation in many people. Carbonyl iron is much, much less likely to interfere with your ability to poop.
Now, there is also heme iron, which is a whole other thing. It's absorbed really well but it's expensive. I don't know much about it; Andrea is the person to ask if you wanna know more.
Kelly
What we need to look at is the amount of elemental iron in the supplement we choose.
Like 325 mg ferrous sulfate only has 65 mg elemental iron in it.
325 mg ferrous gluconate, which is what you bought, only has 36 mg elemental iron.
On the other hand, if you buy Sundown Perfect Iron, which is carbony, one 25 mg tablet has 25 mg elemental iron.
So. What you got has 240 mg ferrous gluconate but only 27 mg elemental iron. That's what you need to look at, that 27 mg.
And it might make you constipated due to the other stuff in it.
Kelly
Like 325 mg ferrous sulfate only has 65 mg elemental iron in it.
325 mg ferrous gluconate, which is what you bought, only has 36 mg elemental iron.
On the other hand, if you buy Sundown Perfect Iron, which is carbony, one 25 mg tablet has 25 mg elemental iron.
So. What you got has 240 mg ferrous gluconate but only 27 mg elemental iron. That's what you need to look at, that 27 mg.
And it might make you constipated due to the other stuff in it.
Kelly
Carbonyl is better. Doesn't have to be Sundown, can be any brand. Walmart and CVS carry a brand called Feosol. I think it's more expensive than the Sundown, which you can get really cheap on drugstore.com. But if you'd rather not order online, it's a good brand. Make sure you get the carbonyl, though, because Feosol also sells ferrous sulfate.
Kelly
Kelly
Kelly,
Your timing with this post is perfect! I have been having issues with my hemoglobin being very low lately, the last time it was checked it was at 9.2. So far they have done an Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy and found nothing wrong. The doc's have decided that I am just not absorbing the iron much at all. What I don't understand is my doctor told me to take 3 Ferrous Sulfate pills (325 mg each) a day. Why would they have me take something that doesn't work well with us? I don't get it. So, if I switch to the Carbonyl, do you think I should still take the 3 a day?? I don't want to take too much.
Thanks for your help,
Brenda
Your timing with this post is perfect! I have been having issues with my hemoglobin being very low lately, the last time it was checked it was at 9.2. So far they have done an Endoscopy and a Colonoscopy and found nothing wrong. The doc's have decided that I am just not absorbing the iron much at all. What I don't understand is my doctor told me to take 3 Ferrous Sulfate pills (325 mg each) a day. Why would they have me take something that doesn't work well with us? I don't get it. So, if I switch to the Carbonyl, do you think I should still take the 3 a day?? I don't want to take too much.
Thanks for your help,
Brenda