Could I be taking too much iron?

[P Bo]

So with the two vitamin tabs I take (one for skin hair and nails, good multi vit) and Iron with vits and minerals, it means I get 127% the RDA of Iron. This obviously isn't including what I eat (not much spinach, mostly things like salads, chips, protein shakes, lentils maybe twice a week, chick peas 4 times a week.

Could I be getting too much?

[vegimator]

Not likely. Non-heme iron (heme is only found in animal products) is less readily absorbed than heme. Sounds like you're getting the right amount unless you've had your levels checked and they were high.

[thestoatyone]

Sounds odd, but are you a fella or a lady? If you are of the female persuasion don't worry at all. If you can pee standing up, might be an idea to rain it in. Although like vegimator says, you're probably alright really.

[Gelert]

What's your poo like?

[JP]

What's your poo like?

let me guess, its not relevant for this but you are just interested anyway?

[Gelert]

What's your poo like?

let me guess, its not relevant for this but you are just interested anyway?

Am I that obvious?

Of course I am.

Seriously, it's well known that iron supplementation (arguably to excess) can cause dark stools as the excess iron is excreted. Since iron absorption is apparently better when stores are running low, this could be a sign that "more than enough" iron is going in to the OP's diet.

I've had this myself when I used to take a multivitamin with iron.

Between the black poo from iron supplements and the fluorescent yellow wazz from too much B vitamins, I had the most interesting adult nappies in my diaper lovers anonymous circle for a while. Being a health conscious vegan and into paraphilic infantilism is a heavy cross to bear, I tell you.

Other things can cause this symptom, of course, but if you have black poo and then stop your supplement for a couple of days and it goes back to a nice inviting brown, you get the picture.


Right, that sounded fairly convincing as far as a cover story for my fetish goes, didn't it?

[shellie]

have you had a blood test?

Your iron levels can be too high, mine are and I am female, have been told to stop taking supplements (i was taking one multi vit and mineral supp most days) as it may be this and go back for more blood tests in a couple of months. Iron was too low this time last year, can't win!