Iron Supplements

About Iron Supplements

Iron is an essential micronutrient for a number of physiological processes. Iron is well known as a treatment for anemia, and tends to be the first nutrient people think of when energy levels are low. This is simply because iron assists with transporting the most essential nutrient for the human body-oxygen! Without adequate iron, we simply do not oxygenate our tissues well, which can make us very sleepy indeed. In fact, if you've never had anemia before, you could compare it to spending time at a high altitude, where oxygen is thin. Specifically, iron aids in the formation of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells (erythrocytes). Other signs and symptoms of anemia are pallor, poor immunity, dizziness and light-headedness. 

There are many other important functions of iron in the body, most of which tend to be forgotten. One of those is its use as a cofactor for the synthesis of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a catecholamine, and is synthesized in the same biochemical pathway as adrenaline and noradrenaline. Dopamine is an important part of the reward pathway in the brain, and low levels are believed to be linked to addictive behaviour. Low dopamine levels have also been linked to restless leg syndrome. Given this, iron supplementation may be indicated in this condition.