Worried about your iron levels and considering taking iron supplement tablets? Read this first:

Not getting enough iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, and it’s just as common in developed countries as third-world ones – especially if you’re a woman. Around 20% of UK women are estimated to be iron deficient (vegans or vegetarians are also at higher risk). Over time iron deficiency can develop into anaemia, with symptoms like exhaustion, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, headaches, and pale skin. According to NICE, in the UK alone, there are a staggering 57, 000 emergency admissions to hospital each year due to iron deficiency anaemia. Quick, pass the iron supplement tablets!

It's also worth remembering that having lower ferritin (stored iron) levels, is also a form of iron deficiency, with many of the same debilitating symptoms as anaemia. Most doctors will test your haemoglobin levels if you're worried about low iron. But remember, that is an indicator of anaemia, not iron deficiency. You can have haemoglobin levels within range, but very low ferritin. Untreated iron deficiency will cause symptoms and probably develop into anaemia. Low ferritin is an excellent warning sign you need to start building up your iron levels. However, many doctors won't test your ferritin unless you specifically ask.

Should I take iron supplement tablets for low ferritin?

Topping up your iron levels with iron supplement tablets, or a patch, is wise if your ferritin is low. But watch out, because even once you get your ferritin levels tested, there’s some confusing debate around what constitutes a low level. According to the NHS, anything over 15ug/l per litre is considered 'normal'. But there is research suggesting if your ferritin is anything less than 50 ug/l, you have iron deficiency. Many health experts argue that low iron symptoms like hair loss and tiredness will start to kick in if your ferritin is less than 70!

A trip to the doctor to test your ferritin and haemoglobin levels is a good start if you're worried about your iron levels. Then, if you have low haemoglobin or ferritin, you'll most likely be prescribed some iron supplement tablets. Problem solved? Unfortunately not. As so often when it comes to supplementation, an oral tablet isn't the silver bullet it might first seem. Here are 4 reasons why iron supplement pills aren't always the most effective way to treat iron deficiency. Plus some alternatives to get your levels up and help you feel your best again:

1. Unpleasant side effects:

Ever taken iron supplement tablets? You’ve probably experienced some not-so-fun side effects. When you take an iron tablet, your stomach acids will try to break it down. Some of the iron is absorbed into your bloodstream through the gut, but there's a lot of unabsorbed iron left floating about wreaking havoc in your digestive system. This excess unabsorbed iron can cause side effects like constipation, or the exact opposite: diarrhoea (hurrah). Cramps, nausea, and actually being sick are all common too – just what you need!

Feeling rubbish is bad enough, but these GI upsets can also mean that less iron is absorbed into your body. So you feel awful and you're not even getting the iron boost benefit you'd hoped for – great! In addition, most iron tablets have additional ingredients like maize starch, gelatin, and liquid paraffin, which can also upset sensitive tummies.

Want to top up your iron, but swerve all these yucky side effects? The Iron Plus patch is perfect for you. Pop one on for 8 hours each day and the iron is absorbed into your bloodstream via your skin, totally bypassing your gut. This means you can build up your iron levels without having to worry about tummy troubles the day after – hallelujah!

2. Oral iron supplements aren't always readily absorbed:

If you're taking iron orally, it should ideally be heme iron, found in meat, fish, and poultry. This form of iron is the most readily absorbed by your body, around 35%. It might not sound like much, but as a comparison, only 1 – 15% of the non-heme elemental iron found in most iron supplement tablets gets absorbed!

Plus, the absorption of non-heme iron can be hampered by lots of 'co-factors'. Usually other things you're eating and drinking. Milk and caffeine are the main culprits. Both can substantially inhibit iron absorption – a milky morning coffee alongside your iron tablet is a hard no. But that's not all, foods like spinach, nuts, beans, and egg whites, can also reduce non-heme iron absorption too – sigh.

There are heme iron supplements available but they can be hard to come by, often very expensive, and aren’t suitable for veggies or vegans.

Iron patches are an excellent alternative to heme iron because their absorption isn't dependent on your digestive system. And because the iron is being delivered straight into your bloodstream, you can eat all the nuts and beans you want! Safe in the knowledge it won't affect your iron absorption.

3. If you take iron supplement tablets, they can prevent your other medications from working:

When taken orally, iron forms a bond with your other medicine which means it can't be properly absorbed in the gut. The most common advice is to take your iron at least 2 hours apart from all other medications, but research suggests it should be around 4 hours. Possibly even longer, if you're unfortunate enough to suffer with intense digestive side effects after taking iron.

This isn't practical if you're taking medication for one of the many conditions that often go hand in hand with iron deficiency, for example, hypothyroidism. It's easy to forget when you took one medication, and then take your iron too soon. Life's busy enough without having to juggle your pills! This is another occasion when iron patches can be a lifesaver, because the active ingredient goes straight into your bloodstream. This means it won't have a negative interaction with other medicines you're taking.

4. Iron supplement tablets can take a long time to see results:

With poor absorption, and stomach upsets, you can understand why building up your iron with pills can be a very slow process. It can often take at least three months of taking oral iron supplement tablets to see any kind of lift in your iron status.

To level up your iron, consistency is key and you'll need to be taking your tablets every day, ideally at the same time (and avoiding all the things discussed earlier that can influence iron absorption.)

This is tricky enough, but when you throw in the debilitating digestive side effects, you can understand why many people struggle to take oral iron supplements regularly, and for long enough to see a positive change in their iron and ferritin status.

In contrast, popping on a patch each day has no side effects and is super easy to do consistently. Leave your patches somewhere easy to remember and pop one on after you brush your teeth, turn off your snooze alarm, etc. Clients who use Iron Plus patches find they can take them consistently and build up their levels again surprisingly quickly. Like Georgina who said: "Not only my iron is in range now but my ferritin got in range too. Before using the Iron Plus Patch, both of them were below the lab range."

All the iron benefits, with none of the side effects or stress about absorption, browse our full range of iron patches here.