Iron question....

I am currently taking Celebrate Iron+C.  It is ferrous fumerate which I read we don't absorb.  I need a chewable, liquid or smaller than an M&M elemental iron. What does everyone use?  I still have problems swallowing pills larger than an M&M.  Thanks so much!

That iron can actually be absorbed by most. 

But if you looking for small pills - generic carbonate iron is small enough. Or even better - Bi-fera.. Combination of heme iron and carbonate. 

I thought I read ferrous anything doesn't absorb well for us?  Maybe I didn't.  

Ferrous = iron in combination with... 

The "fumarate" is the part  indicate type of molecule. Carbonate and fumarate are suppose to be easier on the stomach... 

Ferrous sulfate is not as good and can cause more issues like cramps, and constipation. 

I use the celebrate iron+c tablet. My labs have been great so far. 

We absorb ferrous fumarate and the other ferrous salts just fine. The bigger issue is, they all cause pretty bad constipation or stomach upset.

A couple of the other iron formulations don't constipate or upset stomachs. The one that is most commonly available and inexpensive is carbonyl iron. Most use Sundown Perfect Iron brand. The pills are really tiny, and dissolve quickly, and you'll probably need to take at least a few at a time.

I was instructed to take ferrous fumerate or elemental iron. It's the ferrous sulfate you want to avoid, mainly due to the chance of GI upset. I take cheap elemental iron, and my 3 month blood work was the first time in living memory that my iron panel came back normal.

All the ferrous salts act pretty much the same. Ferrous sulfate won't be any better for you than ferrous fumarate or ferrous gluconate.

The "elemental" part is the portion of the tablet that is the iron you can absorb. For the ferrous salts, there is usually about 65mg of elemental iron in a 325mg tablet. The remaining 260mg of stuff is what makes you so constipated.

On the other hand, a 25mg carbonyl iron tablet is all elemental iron. That's also why the tablets are tiny, next to a 325mg ferrous sulfate tablet, and they aren't constipating.

Ha, you're right -- I just looked up my Amazon order, and while it says "65mg elemental iron equivalent to 325mg ferrous sulfate on the front of the bottle," the first actual ingredient listed is in fact ferrous sulfate. *******s! I wonder if that's why pooping has been a monumental task lately!

It's probably a big part of it. Try switching to carbonyl iron. It can't hurt.