5 ms·

I have occasional restless leg (once every two weeks or so) and low energy. How would one know if one has iron deficiency despite blood work being normal? Is it

by SamBam 3y ago

I have occasional restless leg (once every two weeks or so) and low energy. How would one know if one has iron deficiency despite blood work being normal? Is it just a case of popping iron pills and seeing if you feel better?

dj_mc_merlin 3y ago
Doesn't hurt to try does it? A bit of extra iron is harmless.
- SamBam 3y ago
  That was partly my question. Looking online, iron is definitely something that you don't want to have too much of. My question is, basically, is having a non-anemic iron deficiency something that can be easily remedied by having low-dose over the counter vitamins, or is it something that requires a higher dose (to make up the difference in what you're missing) and so requires a doctor. And yet it sounds like this is difficult to diagnose.
  - dj_mc_merlin 3y ago
    Over the counter iron supplements are totally safe to take for the period indicated on them. They contain as much iron as a medium piece of chicken liver.
    - SamBam 3y ago
      Most of the over the counter ones I see online are 65 mg iron, which is nearly twice the iron in a whole half kilo of chicken liver. The medical sites say a safe value is no more than 45 mg per day. There are also low iron pills (or "gentle iron") that are 28 mg. So not only are many over the counter pills potentially over the safe levels, but it still doesn't even really answer the question, which is whether the low-dose pills that are under the RDA effective in countering an iron deficiency. Anyway. I think I'll ask my doctor at a once-every-several-years checkup.
      - dj_mc_merlin 3y ago
        Do you live in America? Supplements tend to be much stronger there. Here in Germany at the local pharmacy you will mostly find in the 10mg-30mg range. I've bought and drank them before to no ill effect, which is why I even started this entire chain.
        scaryclam 3y ago
        Same for here in the UK. My iron suppliments are 30mg, which seems pretty usual here.
- zhengyi13 3y ago
  It can indeed hurt[1], and getting medical advice from the Internet can be... fraught. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557376/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20side%20effects,to%20green%20or%20'tarry%20black https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557376/#:~:text=The%20....
raffraffraff 3y ago
What's "normal"? Your results are never just "normal", there is a range that is considered normal. If you're at the low end of normal, that could actually be just "low". Those teams can be a bit too wide. How is your B12? If you're a vegan or vegetarian and aren't taking those supplements then I would start taking them. It's always safe to take extra B12. Unless your iron is at the upper end of the band it should be safe to take a low dose. But it won't do anything if you're not really deficient. I find that sitting at a desk all day makes me tired. I just push past it and go for a run. Always works, and it guarantees me a good night's sleep. Just remembered, if you walk a lot, like over 25k steps a day, or do a lot of exercise (squats?) that can also cause restless legs. Also, your diet? Most people are getting more than enough carbs these days, but are you on some weird diet?

by SamBam 3y ago

dj_mc_merlin 3y ago

Doesn't hurt to try does it? A bit of extra iron is harmless.

SamBam 3y ago
That was partly my question. Looking online, iron is definitely something that you don't want to have too much of. My question is, basically, is having a non-anemic iron deficiency something that can be easily remedied by having low-dose over the counter vitamins, or is it something that requires a higher dose (to make up the difference in what you're missing) and so requires a doctor. And yet it sounds like this is difficult to diagnose.
- dj_mc_merlin 3y ago
  Over the counter iron supplements are totally safe to take for the period indicated on them. They contain as much iron as a medium piece of chicken liver.
  - SamBam 3y ago
    Most of the over the counter ones I see online are 65 mg iron, which is nearly twice the iron in a whole half kilo of chicken liver. The medical sites say a safe value is no more than 45 mg per day. There are also low iron pills (or "gentle iron") that are 28 mg. So not only are many over the counter pills potentially over the safe levels, but it still doesn't even really answer the question, which is whether the low-dose pills that are under the RDA effective in countering an iron deficiency. Anyway. I think I'll ask my doctor at a once-every-several-years checkup.
    - dj_mc_merlin 3y ago
      Do you live in America? Supplements tend to be much stronger there. Here in Germany at the local pharmacy you will mostly find in the 10mg-30mg range. I've bought and drank them before to no ill effect, which is why I even started this entire chain.
      - scaryclam 3y ago
        Same for here in the UK. My iron suppliments are 30mg, which seems pretty usual here.
zhengyi13 3y ago
It can indeed hurt[1], and getting medical advice from the Internet can be... fraught. [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557376/#:~:text=The%20most%20common%20side%20effects,to%20green%20or%20'tarry%20black https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557376/#:~:text=The%20....

raffraffraff 3y ago

What's "normal"? Your results are never just "normal", there is a range that is considered normal. If you're at the low end of normal, that could actually be just "low". Those teams can be a bit too wide. How is your B12? If you're a vegan or vegetarian and aren't taking those supplements then I would start taking them. It's always safe to take extra B12. Unless your iron is at the upper end of the band it should be safe to take a low dose. But it won't do anything if you're not really deficient. I find that sitting at a desk all day makes me tired. I just push past it and go for a run. Always works, and it guarantees me a good night's sleep. Just remembered, if you walk a lot, like over 25k steps a day, or do a lot of exercise (squats?) that can also cause restless legs. Also, your diet? Most people are getting more than enough carbs these days, but are you on some weird diet?