1. Anemia and iron metabolism in the body
Iron deficiency anemia is known as a fairly common disease today and is also the reason why many people often use blood tonics to supplement iron for the body. However, this supplementation is even due to the patient's will without a doctor's prescription. Therefore, to improve iron deficiency anemia, it is necessary to first understand iron metabolism in the body and the causes of anemia.
When iron enters the body, it is dissolved in the stomach in the form of valence II. The iron then moves through the intestinal mucosa via the apoferritin transporter, where it is converted into a complex with valence III and released into the bloodstream for distribution to various tissues. Upon reaching the tissues, iron is largely concentrated in the bone marrow, where it combines with globulin to produce red blood cells. The apoferritin transporter then returns to the intestine to facilitate the next cycle. The process of blood formation is influenced by several factors, including iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. A deficiency in any of these three components can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Consequently, individuals with this condition need to supplement their diet with iron, which is found in various nutrients, as well as porphyrin, to support the regeneration of red blood cells. Using blood tonics can help supplement iron levels and reduce complications in cases exhibiting symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
2. Who should be recommended to use blood tonics
Blood tonics come in many forms such as oral blood tonics, tablets... to help supplement the necessary nutrients for the body of people with iron deficiency anemia. In some cases of mild iron deficiency anemia, it can be adjusted by implementing a diet that uses foods rich in iron, but in more severe cases, this is not enough to meet the needs, but it is necessary to supplement foods rich in high-quality iron and good absorption. Some cases that should take blood tonics include:
- People with heavy blood loss or severe anemia. For example, kidney disease patients, especially those undergoing dialysis, or those with hematuria, or those with prolonged menstrual cycles and menorrhagia or gastric bleeding, or those with intestinal bleeding... all lead to anemia and need to be supplemented with blood tonics as prescribed by a doctor.
- Malnourished patients. Healthy people with a reasonable diet can ensure the amount of nutrients including iron in their daily needs. However, for those who are malnourished, iron supplementation through diet is not enough to meet their needs. Therefore, they need to supplement iron from other high-quality food sources.
- Pregnant women. Before and during pregnancy, women need to supplement iron, which plays a very important role. When the embryo is formed, the mother's iron needs increase and each day the mother needs an additional 955mg of iron to meet the needs. Therefore, pregnant women with a reasonable diet combined with blood tonic supplements will not affect the development and health of the mother and baby.
- Cases with poor nutrient absorption. Elderly people or people with diseases related to the stomach, intestines, and intestinal mucosa have poor nutrient absorption including iron. Therefore, these subjects need to supplement nutrients through high-quality foods.
3. Some notes when choosing blood tonics
Today, there are many types of blood tonics on the market with different ingredients and uses. There may even be some products that do not meet the required quality standards. Therefore, before deciding to choose a blood tonic, you need to pay attention to some of the following points to be able to choose a good product suitable for each person's health.
- Nutritional ingredients, especially iron content in blood tonic products. In addition to containing nutrients, blood tonics need to have three main ingredients including iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. A good medicine will depend largely on the amount of iron contained in the medicine. The best choice that many people make is organic iron, which is quite safe and helps to supplement the maximum amount of iron needed for the body. Moreover, it does not cause side effects for users.
- Origin and address of drug supply. Even if it is an iron supplement, you need to clearly understand its origin, source and quality. If you use supplements that are not guaranteed in quality, it can affect the health of the user. The best way before using it is to go to the doctor and get advice for appropriate treatment.
- Choose products with the fewest side effects. Most people pay attention to unwanted side effects when using supplements or drugs. In addition, when using iron, you need to pay attention to side effects that cause discomfort such as vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea. To avoid side effects caused by using iron supplements, you can add some laxatives such as rhubarb or also have the effect of stopping diarrhea. Or use products containing iron in combination with other substances prepared in the form of solutions or syrups such as iron peptonate, or ferroli...
- When using iron supplements, you should use more vitamin C to help absorb iron better. On the other hand, if you use drinks such as green tea or cherries containing tannin, it will inhibit iron absorption. Therefore, when supplementing iron, eating a lot of fresh vegetables or ripe fruits containing a lot of vitamin C helps the body absorb iron effectively.
- Supplement folic acid if using iron supplements. Folic acid is known as a water-soluble vitamin, when entering the body it can be transformed into an active form that is evenly distributed in the organs of the body, especially the liver. However, the amount of folic acid stored in the body is quite small, and when the body lacks folic acid, it can slow down the process of blood cell division, and at the same time cause anemia.
Folic acid can be prepared in tablet form and used daily with a dosage depending on each specific case. Cases diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia can use folic acid prepared orally, however, if these subjects are related to severe malabsorption syndrome, it must be used by injection.
Many people are concerned about whether taking blood tonics can lead to weight gain. While blood tonics can cause some weight gain, it is usually minimal and does not result in obesity when used over an extended period. Therefore, individuals who are overweight or obese but also have anemia should still ensure they get the necessary supplements to meet their needs. Additionally, incorporating iron-rich foods can help to improve iron deficiency anemia.
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