Jump to content
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Iron


scaredparent

Recommended Posts

scaredparent Apprentice

My question is simple, does every with celiac disease have to take iron supplements? My son was not animic until he went gluten-free. When he was having severe dh about 15 stools a day, and vomiting 2 times a day his iron level was between 12 and 13. He has been gluten-free since Feb of 05 and in March his iron level was 11.3 which was borderline and then yesterday it was 10.9 so it is dropping. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong. He has been gluttened before but came out of it fine. He usually gets dh with a cross contamination but normally has formed stool and has not vomited since Feb 05. I think he is going to have to go back on iron will he have to always remain on iron or can he eventually get off of it.


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



KaitiUSA Enthusiast

He should eventually be able to get off of it. Not everyone with celiac is anemic and needs to take iron.Is he getting enough food with iron in it? Has there been any gluten getting into his system that could be hidden somehow?

Usually its the other way around where pre gluten free the person is anemic and then the diet helps but this does happen sometimes. I would put him on an iron liquid supplement because the absorption should be better.

uclangel422 Apprentice

I have been on iron for awhile and it is slowly creeping back up. It takes a bit of time though. I have been on iron for almost 6 months now. I started with a prescription one and am now on an OTC slow release one that doesnt hurt my stomach.

My doctor told me to of course eat more meat and spinach and to not mix those foods with calcium because it slows the absorption of iron. Also, cook in an iron skillet it one of those strange things that i am told works.

lbsteenwyk Explorer

Remember that most gluten free foods are not fortified with iron, while mainstream breads, cereals, etc are fortified. Your child is probably not getting as much dietary iron now that he is gluten-free. I give my daughter a gluten-free multivitamin that contains iron. My child is a picky eater and doesn't eat much meat - one of the best sources of iron, so I feel that a multivitamin is a good strategy right now.

mstrain Rookie

Laurie mentioned that lack of iron-fortified gluten-free foods - is a multi-vitamin a must for individuals with celiac disease? What other vitamins/minerals are "lacking" from our foods? I've always tried to maintain proper vitamin/mineral intake by diet alone - should I be changing my ways?

Michele

tarnalberry Community Regular

My iron's been fine the whole time - we're all different. I take a multi that does have iron in it, but nothing more than that. Is he eating plenty of meat/eggs/milk? Have you tried giving him something high in vit C to go along with whatever he's having that's high in iron? It helps the body absorb the iron.

lbsteenwyk Explorer

Michele,

I don't think every celiac needs a multi-vitamin. If you eat a well-balanced diet that includes good sources of iron, folic acid and B vitamins you probably will be fine. The government requires the fortification of refined grain products because deficiency in the US used to be a problem. In this day and age, with our abundant food supply in the US, most people probably get adequate amounts of these nutrients, even without fortification.

WHOLE GRAINS are the best source of the B vitamins, so make an effort to include brown rice and some of the whole grain gluten-free flours - sorghum, buckwheat, brown rice flour - in your diet. Riboflavin (B-2) is found in dairy products, eggs and soy milk as well. Nuts, sweet potatoes and pork are good sources of Thiamin (B-1). As far as iron - any fresh meat, fish, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes are good sources. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, I would consider taking 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

It might be prudent to have your Hemoglobin and Hematocrit checked after you have been gluten-free for a while, just to be sure your iron levels are ok. (You can have these checked for free just by donating blood.)

Hope this information helps!


Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):



Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):



lbsteenwyk Explorer

Michele,

I don't think every celiac needs a multi-vitamin. If you eat a well-balanced diet that includes good sources of iron, folic acid and B vitamins you probably will be fine. The government requires the fortification of refined grain products because deficiency in the US used to be a problem. In this day and age, with our abundant food supply in the US, most people probably get adequate amounts of these nutrients, even without fortification.

WHOLE GRAINS are the best source of the B vitamins, so make an effort to include brown rice and some of the whole grain gluten-free flours - sorghum, buckwheat, brown rice flour - in your diet. Riboflavin (B-2) is found in dairy products, eggs and soy milk as well. Nuts, sweet potatoes and pork are good sources of Thiamin (B-1). As far as iron - any fresh meat, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes are good sources. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, I would consider taking 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

It might be prudent to have your Hemoglobin and Hematocrit checked after you have been gluten-free for a while, just to be sure your iron levels are ok. (You can have these checked for free just by donating blood.)

Hope this information helps!

nettiebeads Apprentice
Michele,

I don't think every celiac needs a multi-vitamin.  If you eat a well-balanced diet that includes good sources of iron, folic acid and B vitamins you probably will be fine.  The government requires the fortification of refined grain products because deficiency in the US used to be a problem.  In this day and age, with our abundant food supply in the US, most people probably get adequate amounts of these nutrients, even without fortification.

WHOLE GRAINS are the best source of the B vitamins, so make an effort to include brown rice and some of the whole grain gluten-free flours - sorghum, buckwheat, brown rice flour - in your diet.  Riboflavin (B-2) is found in dairy products, eggs and soy milk as well.  Nuts, sweet potatoes and pork are good sources of Thiamin (B-1). As far as iron - any fresh meat, fish, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes are good sources.  If you are a woman of child-bearing age, I would consider taking 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

It might be prudent to have your Hemoglobin and Hematocrit checked after you have been gluten-free for a while, just to be sure your iron levels are ok.  (You can have these checked for free just by donating blood.)

Hope this information helps!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Donating blood is how I monitor my iron levels. I've been rejected twice as a donor for low iron. Since everyone is different and celiac disease affects everyone differently, an iron supplement (with ped/dr approval) I think would be fine. You sure don't want to let him get run down and lethargic. I find I do better (more energy and sense of well-being) on an OTC multi vitamin/mineral.

nettiebeads Apprentice
It might be prudent to have your Hemoglobin and Hematocrit checked after you have been gluten-free for a while, just to be sure your iron levels are ok.  (You can have these checked for free just by donating blood.)

Hope this information helps!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just tried to donate blood. Not enough iron (3rd time that's happened). But did find out that tea, regular or decaffinated, interferes with iron absorption. FYI

lbsteenwyk Explorer

A few other things that impact iron absorption:

Vitamin C improves absorption. Drink 4 oz of OJ or have another good source of vitamin C when you take your multi with iron (or even when you eat a food source of iron).

Don't drink milk or eat yogurt at the same time. Calcium interferes with iron absorption. Take your iron 2 hours apart from a calcium source. That includes calcium supplements.

scaredparent Apprentice

He is not able to drink OJ because it cause severe diahrea and sores in his mouth. I had heard that OJ helps. I haven't tried OC vitamins.

tarnalberry Community Regular
Donating blood is how I monitor my iron levels.  I've been rejected twice as a donor for low iron.  Since everyone is different and celiac disease affects everyone differently, an iron supplement (with ped/dr approval) I think would be fine.  You sure don't want to let him get run down and lethargic.  I find I do better (more energy and sense of well-being) on an OTC multi vitamin/mineral.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My allergist warned me that those tests aren't reliable (in that they won't say that you're iron-deficient until you're *rather* iron deficient), so you may also want to talk to your doctor about better monitoring if you think you need to.

mstrain Rookie
WHOLE GRAINS are the best source of the B vitamins, so make an effort to include brown rice and some of the whole grain gluten-free flours - sorghum, buckwheat, brown rice flour - in your diet.  Riboflavin (B-2) is found in dairy products, eggs and soy milk as well.  Nuts, sweet potatoes and pork are good sources of Thiamin (B-1). As far as iron - any fresh meat, fish, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes are good sources.  If you are a woman of child-bearing age, I would consider taking 400 mcg of folic acid daily.

It might be prudent to have your Hemoglobin and Hematocrit checked after you have been gluten-free for a while, just to be sure your iron levels are ok.  (You can have these checked for free just by donating blood.)

Hope this information helps!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, Laurie, this information is very helpful!! Thank you so much!

shan1523 Rookie

I dont know if this info will help, but depending on if your child will still eat it, I give my son the baby rice cereal (gluten-free) but fortified with iron, he has been anemic in the past while not gluten-free, but his numbers keep going up and hes ok now. He wouldnt take a pill very well at this age so I make sure he gets the rice cereal everyday.

Shannon

Son 13 months, signs since 5 months(starting solids)

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,561
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    lamps
    Newest Member
    lamps
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • petitojou
      Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I found myself giggling with happiness as I read how your body reached such spring! And I hope that your current journey is also successful!! Definitely starting the food diary! So many amazing advices. And it’s very scary. It really hits all our soft spots as well as our confidence system. Most doctors I went thought I was underage despite being in my late 20s. Right now I look like am I twelve, but is also this body that’s taking so much, so I might as well love it too! Going to make the necessary changes and stay in this path. Thank you again! 🫶
    • petitojou
      Thank you so much for the information and kind message! Reading this transformed how I’ve been viewing my efforts and progress. Guess there’s still a lot to celebrate and also heal 😌  Yes, I’ve been taking it! Just recently started taking a multivitamin supplement and separated vitamin D! I also took chewable Iron polymaltose for ferritin deficiency 2 months ago but was unable to absorb any of it.  Thank you again! Hearing such gentle words from the community makes my body and heart more patient and excited for the future. 
    • ckeyser88
      I am looking for a roomie in Chicago, Denver or Nashville! 
    • Scott Adams
      Your post demonstrates the profound frustration and isolation that so many in the Celiac community feel, and I want to thank you for channeling that experience into advocacy. The medical gaslighting you endured for decades is an unacceptable and, sadly, a common story, and the fact that you now have to "school" your own GI specialist speaks volumes about the critical lack of consistent and updated education. Your idea to make Celiac Disease a reportable condition to public health authorities is a compelling and strategic one. This single action would force the system to formally acknowledge the prevalence and seriousness of the disease, creating a concrete dataset that could drive better research funding, shape medical school curricula, and validate the patient experience in a way that individual stories alone often cannot. It is an uphill battle, but contacting representatives, as you have done with Adam Gray, is exactly how change begins. By framing it as a public health necessity—a matter of patient safety and protection from misdiagnosis and neglect—you are building a powerful case. Your voice and your perseverance, forged through thirty years of struggle, are exactly what this community needs to ensure that no one else has to fight so hard just to be believed and properly cared for.
    • Scott Adams
      I had no idea there is a "Louisville" in Colorado!😉 I thought it was a typo because I always think of the Kentucky city--but good luck!
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.