Occasionally, however, iron deficiency signals ulcers or even colon cancer . Some pre-menopausal women become marginally iron deficient unless they supplement with iron. A doctor should be consulted to determine the amount of iron that is needed. Keep iron-containing supplements out of a child's reach. Supplementing iron can be quite dangerous for people with these diseases.
Supplemental amounts required to overcome iron deficiency can cause constipation .
Sometimes the amount of iron must be reduced if constipation occurs. The greatest concern has surrounded the possibility that excess storage of iron in the body increases the risk of heart disease . Two recent analyses of published studies came to different conclusions about whether iron could increase heart disease risk. The link between excess iron and the diseases mentioned earlier in this paragraph has not been definitively proven. Nonetheless, too much iron causes free radical damage , which can, in theory, promote or exacerbate most of these diseases.