question

leslie :-D · Feb 21, 2009

sorry...nevermind.

link's not working.

leslie

athena55, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2009

Constipation refers to infrequent or hard stools, or difficulty passing stools. Constipation may involve pain during the passage of a bowel movement, inability to pass a bowel movement after straining or pushing for more than 10 minutes, or no bowel movements after more than 3 days. Infants who are still exclusively breastfed may go 7 days without a stool.

Now, the best food source of iron is liver, red meats, oysters, meats, poultry, fish which contain heme iron, which is better absorbed than non-heme iron.

Non-heme iron is found in dark green, leafy veggies like spinach, chard, kale, and whole cereal grains like bran and whole wheat bread, dried fruit, molasses, wine and most iron supplements. However, the phytates and oxalates found in the dark green leafy veggies and whole cereal grains will decrease the absorption of iron because they bind with the iron in your gi tract.

If a person chooses not to eat meat, and does eat all those green leafy veggies, then the suggestion might be made to add iron fortified cereals and the addition of a hematinic (iron supplement) .

I am not sure of the mechanism behind the side effect of constipation....For sure most hematinics will turn stool a darker color, but perhaps you could ask the NP/DO/MD to order a combination product that contains stool softeners.

Now, talking about constipation: 3 types:

Atonic from lack of fluids, lack of roughage in the diet, irregular bowel habits, hypokalemia

Spastic which results from excessive tone of colonic muscles

Obstructive due to stricture of the colon or cancer

Umm, sorry...didn't mean to get on the soap box...

athena

lilanjel_17 · Feb 22, 2009

hmm thanks athena...still don't know what causes constipation in iron... :crying2:

Fiona59 · Feb 22, 2009

As a student, this is a great chance for you to demonstrate your googling skills...

athena55, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2009

What I should have said, in between my long-windedness, was that No one really is sure if iron supplements does indeed cause constipation.

Remember, when a medication goes to clinical phase 3 trials, people will be asked to list any complaints or somatic "reactions" they may experience while taking the real med vs. the controlled med.

So perhaps as little as .3% complained of "constipation" thus....that was added as a possible side effect.

Do a google search and you will not find much on taking iron supplements and constipation. Some will say it is an old wife's tale.

athena