Iron is essential to life and supports many functions in our bodies, it is crucial in forming haemoglobinwhichsupports oxygen transport around the body.Running low on iron can result in tiredness, weakness and iron deficiency or anaemia.
One common way to restore iron levels is to take supplements. Iron pills can be an effective way to increase and maintain iron, but how do we know when, or if, they are working?
As results vary from person to person, we have broken down what you can expect from taking iron pills and how it feels when your iron levels begin to improve.
What are the signs your iron pills are working?
The signs your iron pills are working are as follows:
- You will feel that you have more energy
- Your ability to concentrate may improve
- You will have a healthier immune system
How do iron pills affect energy levels?
It can be challenging to know if your iron supplements are working.
It is essential to remember iron is used in the body in two ways: it is stored in our liver, and it is circulated in our blood. When our iron intake is low, our storage iron drops first, having lower iron reserves. It can take up to 3 months to replenish storage iron.
Tiredness or a lack of energy (fatigue) is commonly associated with a diet low in iron (1). If your iron supplement is working, the first thing you should notice is an increase in your energy levels. However, when this will occur varies from person to person. It is dependent on your levels of iron both in storage and in circulation.
When your iron supplement works, you should have more energy, better concentration, and a healthier immune system (2).
What are the signs your iron pills are not working?
If your iron supplements are not working, you may experience the following (3):
- You may continue to experience tiredness and fatigue (even after 90 days)*
- You may have poor concentration
- You may have a weaker immune system – meaning you are more prone to coughs and colds
- Your iron levels may be lower than optimum levels
Taking iron supplements may also result in other side effects such as an upset stomach, nausea or constipation. These side effects can be managed at home or avoided by finding the right supplements or diet to suit your body.
*If you are experiencing tiredness and fatigue after 90 days of supplementation you should consult your doctor.
How do I know how much iron I need in my supplements?
Our daily requirement for Iron depends on several factors; Women of child-bearing age have the highest need for iron, with a daily requirement of 14.8mg. Whilst Men and post-menopausal women have a daily requirement of 8.7 mg (4).
It is important to ensure your supplement is giving you a sufficient amount of Iron. Some people experience side effects, especially from higher-dose iron pills resulting from poor absorption. The unabsorbed Iron becomes oxidised and causes gut irritation, resulting in side effects such as constipation and nausea.
Is your iron supplement working well for you?
If you are not getting enough iron from your diet alone, an iron supplement can help your iron levels. An iron supplement that works well should be easy to take with no side effects, and you should have a noticeable increase in your energy levels.
When choosing an iron supplement, it is essential to choose one strong on absorption whilst gentle on the stomach.
With its ground-breaking protein formula, Active Iron delivers higher absorption of iron than other traditional ferrous sulfate oral iron products on the market, whilst its non-constipating formula helps to reduce gut irritation (5).
Signs That Your Iron Pills Are Working – FAQ:
How to know if iron supplements are working?
The best way to determine whether iron pills are working is to check your ferritin levels via a blood test. A ferritin test will show how much iron your body stores.
How to know if iron supplements are working?
The best way to determine whether iron pills are working is to check your ferritin levels via a blood test. A ferritin test will show how much iron your body stores.
What are the signs that iron pills are working?
Iron helps support your energy levels, therefore you should expect to feel less tiredness and fatigue. Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels by 94%* in 6 weeks, but many start to feel the benefits earlier than that. Iron also helps support cognitive function and immunity so you should experience better concentration and a healthier immune system.
Do iron pills give you energy?
Iron pills don’t work for everyone, but they do help support energy levels and reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue. The body needs iron to produce red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. If you experience ongoing tiredness and fatigue, consider taking an iron supplement such as Active Iron.
How long do iron pills take to work?
How long iron pills can take to workdepends on each person, most people feel better taking an iron supplement after 3 weeks but it may take up to 12 weeks to feel an increase in energy.
Active Iron is clinically proven to increase iron levels by 94%* within 6 weeks, but many start to feel the benefits earlier than that, such as an increase in energy levels and feeling less tiredness & fatigue.
(1) Tiredness/Fatigue may be a symptom of other conditions. You should contact a health care professional if it persists.
(2) Iron helps support your energy metabolism, supports cognitive function and supports your immune system.
(3) These symptoms may be signs of other conditions. You should contact a health care professional if they persist.
(4) https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/iron/, accessed May 2020.
(5) Wang et al., Acta Haematologica 2017
*Ledwidge, M. et al. PRECISION Study. Int J Clin Pharm (2023) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11096-023-01640-7
