Iron supplement
Iron supplement
Iron supplements (pronunciation: /ˈaɪərn ˈsʌplɪmənts/) are medications that contain iron. Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and myoglobin, a protein that provides oxygen to muscles.
Etymology
The term "iron" comes from the Old English word "iren", which is derived from the Proto-Germanic "isarnan", which means "holy metal". The term "supplement" comes from the Latin "supplementum", which means "something added to complete a thing or extend it".
Usage
Iron supplements are used to treat iron deficiency anemia and other types of anemia. They are also used to prevent iron deficiency in people who are at risk, such as pregnant women, infants, and people with certain health conditions.
Types of Iron Supplements
There are several types of iron supplements, including ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, and ferrous fumarate. These are known as oral iron supplements because they are taken by mouth. There are also intravenous iron supplements, which are given by injection into a vein.
Side Effects
Iron supplements can cause side effects, such as constipation, nausea, and stomach pain. They can also cause more serious side effects, such as iron overload, if taken in large amounts.
Related Terms
- Anemia: A condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
- Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.
- Myoglobin: A protein that provides oxygen to muscles.
- Iron deficiency anemia: A type of anemia caused by a lack of iron in the body.
- Ferrous sulfate: A type of iron supplement.
- Ferrous gluconate: A type of iron supplement.
- Ferrous fumarate: A type of iron supplement.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Iron supplement
- Wikipedia's article - Iron supplement
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