Question:
How much iron can we absorb at one time?

Happy Fourth of July everyone! Now that it is summer and I am getting out more, I am having a hard time getting my supplements in (vitamins and protein). I know I haven't been focussing on protein and eat just about anything I want. I'm trying to rectify the protein part by starting out the day with a protein drink. I am having a hard time with the vitamins though. I'm supposed to take 325 mils of iron three times a day. I'm thinking if I can double up on some of these vitamins it would be easier then taking them so scattered. I don't have a scheduled time and its hard for me to schedule a time because I don't work at a set location, I'm driving to different locations throughout the day and my schedule varies from day to day. With having to separate iron from calcium, sometimes it gets hard. I was wondering if I can take two iron pills at one time and what I can take the iron with. I take 1200 mils of calcium twice a day, 325 mils of iron three times a day with vitamin c, two multi-vitamins, and a hair & nail vitamin. I take b-12 three days a week (when I remember). I know I gotta stop neglecting this kind of stuff, but with the way I work its hard to get a schedule down.    — Lisa N M. (posted on July 4, 2003)

July 4, 2003
Wow, that's a whole lot of vits. But I fully recommend you do as your doc instructs. I take a Centrum in the morning and a Tums EX with my protein shake for breakfast. I take an iron tab with my lunch (can't do the dairy products with the iron). With dinner I take my other Tums Ex. At bed time I take another Centrum and my sublinqual B-12. I would switch over to calcium citrate, but it seems like you would be taking that all day long and I worried about where I'd fit it in with my iron. My vitamin program is working for me and I have worked into a routine. I sure understand how challenging all this is. What type of surgery did you have? RNY? Open or lap? (Open RNY 10/30/02 and down 170 lbs)
   — Ginger M.

July 4, 2003
This is the original poster. I had RNY open 20 Mar 02. The reason for all the iron is that I'm anemic. I don't blame the surgery though. I've always been anemic. If anything it is less so then before surgery. Also, I do take calcium citrate. Thanks!
   — Lisa N M.

July 5, 2003
I don't know how much iron you should take at one time, but I have heard that taking vitamin C with your iron will increase absorption by 30%. As far as the calcium goes, I have read that we should not take more than 600mg at a time.
   — Kristen S.

July 7, 2003
325mg fe sulfate = 65mg elemental iron. There is one iron on the market that is 150mg elemental iron (almost all 3 of yours together in one pill). It's also more absorbable than the fe sulfate. So, you might try that one, with vit C. Then you'd get 150mg of ABSORBABLE iron, in one pill, at one time. Not with caffeine or dairy, other vites, meds or minerals. But you could take it with a cracker or toast, for example. Or your sugar free "juice". I'm assuming you do your multi & calcium citrates elsewhere in the day, of course.
   — vitalady