When Iron Deficiency Anemia Is Not What It Appears to Be, Iron Deficiency Anemia From Heavy Menstrual Periods, Iron Deficiency Anemia Facts and Statistics: What You Need to Know, Iron - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals, Iron deficiency anemia: a common and curable disease, Iron Supplementation, Response in Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Analysis of Five Trials, Iron supplement (oral route, parenteral route): Side effects, Review on iron and its importance for human health, Iron ingestion: an evidence-based consensus guideline for out-of-hospital management. Within a fart, several sulfur-related compounds develop that contribute to the intensity of the fart's smell. Another cause behind that smell, though, can be B-6 vitamins, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Call your doctor if you have any of the following: Side effects from iron supplements can make it difficult for some people to comply with treatment. The body loses the ability to break down lactose, so the milk sugars rot and give people very foul-smelling gas and diarrhea, he explains. On top of that, some of our favourite healthy foods can actually inhibit iron absorption, such as spinach, nuts, beans, and egg whites. Eat more whole grain foods and vegetables such as carrots, cucumbers, zucchini and celery. These include: Iron supplements are also commonly prescribed to women of childbearing age to help prevent anemia. Extra iron in your blood can be toxic to the liver, heart, and pancreas and may cause damage to the joints, as well. Iron pills can change the colour of your stool to a greenish or grayish black. Taking iron supplements containing 25 milligrams or more of elemental iron can affect the absorption of zinc and lead to a zinc deficiency. 2017;130(8):991.e1-991.e8. And it can occur when using Metamucil, too. Gas and bloating. Iron deficiency anemia. Find the best products with instant access to our latest tests & reviews of over 1,300 health products. Occasionally, your stool might have a different hue. Sugar alcohols like sorbitol and xylitol which are present in diet drinks and some chewing gum cannot be fully absorbed by the body and therefore travel to the large intestines where they play a role in the production of excessive smelly gas. Most people with this condition do not know that they have it because its symptoms are related to other diseases. The most common adverse effects from taking iron supplements that are reported in research are ( 1 , 2 ): Abdominal discomfort (i.e. If you experience flatulence or other gastrointestinal side effects, the NIH suggests you start with half the recommended dose. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". shallow and rapid breathing. blood, metallic taste in mouth, black bloody stools, Respiratory system: buildup of fluids in the lungs, Heart: low blood pressure, fast and weak heartbeat, shock, dehydration, Nervous system: chills, fever, seizures, headache, Treatment for smelly gas will depend on the underlying issue you have, so thats why its important to see a doctor if you notice that your farts are chronically foul and youre producing a lot of it. It is best to space doses of these 2 products 1 to 2 hours apart, to get the full benefit from each medicine or dietary supplement. Clinical evidence, dosage, safety and how IP6 differs from myo-inositol. There are multiple factors that can play a role in whether or not you experience GI side effects from taking oral iron. It is also necessary for neurological development, synthesis of hormones and proper growth. Doctors typically prescribe one of three types of iron supplements: ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate or ferrous gluconate. The problem is that you have a stomach and gut with the main job of digestion. Iron Deficiency vs. Iron Deficiency Anemia: Whats the difference? Check the product label or speak with your pharmacist who can show you the difference.). Now stir and . Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits, vegetables, and fibre each day. Eating such foods leads an increase in foul-smelling hydrogen sulfide emissions. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. What are the side effects of iron supplements for anemia? If you make a positive or negative comment about a product, note whether or not you have a financial interest in the product or in a competing product. The most common iron supplement side effect is an upset stomach. Diabetes drugs called alpha-glucosidase which slow carbohydrate absorption can make you gassy. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Iron Supplements That Don't Cause Constipation, Side Effects of Iron Supplements for Women over 50, How to Treat Gas Pain After Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Gas In The Digestive Tract, National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron, Tolkien Z, Stecher L, Mander AP, Pereira DI, Powell JJ. This feature is restricted to active members. In fact, having gas is a byproduct of digestion and the air you swallow, hence why you pass gas several times a day. However, odor can also come from short-chain fatty acids (metabolites from the fermentation of dietary fiber), skatoles (from the decomposition of tryptophan), indoles (a chemical found in vegetables), volatile amines, and ammonia. Add Colace or a stool softener. Many high fiber foods can cause you to pass more gas. Here are some causes: Lactose intolerance or lactose malabsorption is a condition in which a person is unable to digest the lactose (a sugar present in milk). Generally speaking, women with postpartum anemia respond best. This can result in iron deficiency anemia symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic, and may include: Read More: 3 Fast Ways of Getting Iron in the Blood. I thought iron supplements were supposed to cause constipation, but I'm in the exact opposite situation. Iron - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data. We will be very happy to hear from you. Most people get sufficient iron from their diet. Looking for a probiotic supplement to add to your routine instead? What are the health benefits of vitamin B12? Diabetes drugs called alpha-glucosidase which slow carbohydrate absorption can make you gassy. Passing gas more than 20 times per day is not normal. Avoid candies, ice creams, desserts and any other sugary products which cause a buildup of excessive gas in the stomach. iron absorption, such as spinach, nuts, beans, and egg whites. Then slowly increase your dosing every few days, as tolerated, until you reach your daily intake. Iron supplements are sold over-the-counter or by prescription. As I stated earlier, there are many reasons why you could be emitting the smelly farts. The foul-smelling farts you are emitting could be a side effect of the medication you are currently undergoing. Everyday Ways to Maintain Your Feel-Great Weight, Mayo Clinic Q&A: 21st Century Stroke Prevention Strategies, Ask the Harvard Experts: Practical Steps to Boost Your Childs Immune System, Mayo Clinic Q&A: Storm Anxiety is Common in Young Children, Getting the Best Treatment for Your Fibromyalgia, The Cheerful Lexicon of the Spanish Language May Help Solve a Health Mystery Called the HispanicParadox, Ready for Another Pandemic Malady? Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made. Stop taking iron supplements and see your doctor if your gas is severe or accompanied by other symptoms such as weight loss; oily, bloody, tarry or unusually foul-smelling stools; nausea; vomiting or heartburn. The dose can vary based on the level of your deficiency as well as the underlying cause. However, iron can be rough on your gastrointestinal tract and some people need to take it with a small amount of food. Gastrointestinal discomfort Take iron pills with meals to A diet high in meats, especially red meat, and a family history can point to colorectal cancer as being a more likely cause of metallic-smelling stool. Iron supplements are known to cause gas and bloating. It does not store any personal data. Psyllium can cause bloating and gas, especially when you first start taking it. J Res Med Sci. Causes of constipation include physical inactivity, medications, and aging. Iron - Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. These charcoal with pores is called activated charcoal and is used for medicinal purposes to trap chemicals. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body . Your body only absorbs 10 to 20 percent of the iron you ingest, while the rest remains behind in the gastrointestinal tract, where it can cause side effects. Apple Cider Vinegar regulates the digestive process by improving the bodys pH levels which helps in breaking food easily. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. So, whats the alternative? Consulting a registered dietitian, who specializes in IBS and SIBO, may also help you figure out a meal plan that will identify which foods may trigger your symptoms. Cinnamon: Having a bounty of medical applications, cinnamon can also help relieve gas pain. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.03.045. Smelly flatulence may be caused by high fiber in food, constipation, and bacteria. for unusual substances, such as dirt or ice, Poor And as we know, the more iron your body can absorb, the less side effects youll experience and the more balanced your iron levels will be. Not only is this normal, some physicians consider it to be a sign that the supplementation is effective. For example, garlic can cause metallic-smelling gas and cruciferous vegetables can cause a rotten egg smell, Dr. Wolf says. Iron is an essential element for blood production. The very first part of your intestine (the duodenum and the first part of your jejunum) is where iron is absorbed best. But not all of us are interested in stocking up on liver and bison burgers. Taking iron supplements that you dont need can lead to a serious condition called iron overload. Iron supplements come in three main forms. such as celiac disease, Stomach Gloria earned both a Bachelor of Science in food science and human nutrition from the University of Illinois. This is normal. Numbness, pain, or tingling of hands or feet, Swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat, Trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking, Vomiting blood or what looks like coffee grounds, Drink plenty of water to prevent constipation, Eat more vegetables and fiber-rich foods to prevent or treat constipation, Take with food to minimize or prevent stomach discomfort, Iron-fortified breakfast cereals: 18 mg per cup, Kidney beans (canned): 2 mg per cup serving, Canned sardines in oil: 2 mg per cup serving, Chickpeas (canned): 2 mg per cup serving, Braised bottom round beef: 2 mg per 3-ounce serving, Baked potatoes: 1 mg per medium-sized potato, Green beans (cooked): 1 mg per cup serving. Iron supplements start to absorb into the body immediatelyespecially when taken on an empty or near-empty stomach. People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) have trouble digesting high FODMAP foods, which can cause more stinky gas, Dr. Wolf says, although people who dont have IBS can also experience smelly gas from eating high FODMAP foods. 1980;355:32-44. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb21325.x. But let your doctor know if: With higher doses, nausea and vomiting may occur. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Your doctor may recommend that you take iron pills, but you should be aware there are side effects of iron pills and you may even experience feeling worse after taking iron supplements. This may reduce the amount of this food fermented by bacteria in the gut, which may reduce the creation of gas and corresponding abdominal discomfort. You may notice that you have less constipation if you take your iron supplement with food. If your iron supplement is working, you should notice an increase in energy levels; however, when this will occur varies from person to person. According to Wirtz, taking magnesium supplements can also cause magnesium toxicity, which in turn can "result in various side effects such as low blood pressure, vomiting, retention of urine, depression, and muscle weaknesses." However, Wirtz clarifies that this particular side effect is unusual and "generally associated with . Join our mailing list.