How/when to take iron

Good morning everyone.  Got my 3 month lab results back and was told to start taking ferrous gluconate 325mg x2/day.  Also was told that vit C (chewable) helps absorbtion and that I shouldn't take with Calcium.   My question is, how do the rest of you "time" your supplements?  Do I have to split up the iron into 2 doses for max absorbtion?  My routine to date was to take Calcium first thing in morning and then a few hours later take everything else (morning doses) since there is iron in multivitamin.  Then I would take evening doses plus more calcium after dinner. I'm not sure if the iron should be on empty stomach or full stomach.  Or if it matters. Thanks! -Dawn

Hi Dawn, I have a very strict regime of vits and mins.  I take them 5 times per day.  Taking the calcium, AM, about 2 hours after the first dose and then the final 500 mgs. after dinner.  I run low on iron also I take one at lunch always a minimum of 2 hours after the mid-morning calcium.  Then the second I take before I go to bed.  I have a book that I do my research in and I will look in it tonight about the iron on an empty stomach.  If you are taking zinc don't take that with the iron either.  If you are taking l-cartine take that on an empty stomach.   I take 3000 mgs. of C, 1000 each with the iron and also another time during the day.  You pee the C out so it can't hurt you.  Yes, it does help the absorbtion of the iron.   Jeanne

I googled it.... Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach with water or fruit juice about 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.  To lessen the possibility of stomach upset, iron may be taken with food or immediately after meals. do not take iron supplements and antacids or clacium supplements at the same time.  it's best to space doses of these 2 products 1 to 2 hours apart. I would split up the iron since we have a 60% malabsorption rate.  Take it with your multi in the evening.

Thanks!  I'm heading out to buy it right now...

Exactly what Kathy said! Jennifer

Thanks everyone!