More Health Research: Iron and other supplements and interactions

[elainegrey]

Thanks to annie_r i looked into Iron with C. Somewhere there was some mention of Quercetin, that flavenoid my nutritionist recommended last year. (I haven't been using it.) Apparently flavenoids, of which quercetin is one, reduces absorption of iron. But another and MOST IMPORTANTLY OMG WTF BBQ TEA apparently reduces absorption :

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp

Tannins (found in tea), calcium, polyphenols, and phytates (found in legumes and whole grains) can decrease absorption of nonheme iron [1,19-24]. Some proteins found in soybeans also inhibit nonheme iron absorption [1,25].

http://www.livestrong.com/article/115501-quercetin/

Flavonoids interfere with the absorption of iron and might reduce the absorption of vitamin C. Information from LPI states that just one cup of tea or cocoa with a meal might decrease the absorption of any iron in the food by 70 percent.

Back to quercetin -- even though it my past reading said it was from apples, with a name like quercetin, i still suspect it's related to oaks. The tannin in acorns?

Back to iron supplements: So, i guess i'll take the iron just before bed with the oils, antihistamine, D, B complex. (EHow notes "Take vitamin A and B complex at the same time as iron. They are also needed for complete iron absorption.") My antihistamine and iron both are not to be taken with antacids (although the antihistamine is contraindicated for a particular formulation, and iron apparently needs all the stomach acid it can get). Apparently one shouldn't take aspirin & NSAIDs with iron.

Here's a Medline derived interaction sheet: http://www.enotalone.com/article/9332.html
And the NIH sheet: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp

While i was looking, i thought to look up Vitamin D interactions, because someone told me something about taking calcium at the same time. This source -- http://www.enotalone.com/article/9433.html -- makes it sound like if i needed calcium supplements (which i probably do, but). D is not a problem with Iron; but i should not take calcium in the evening. However D and antacids should not be taken together (not that i take many antacids), so i'll just keep the D in the evening...


This Iron+C supplement doesn't say how much it has; my doctor recommends 325mg (the NIH reports the DV for iron is 18 mg).
http://www.amazon.com/Vitron-Potency-Supplement-Coated-Tablets/dp/B000GG161K
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