Iron is an essential mineral that helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Iron may play an important role in men’s health.

An iron deficiency can lead to health problems such as chronic fatigue, brain fog, and heart palpitations. Iron supplements are a great way to ensure you get enough iron in your diet.

Iron supplements for men come in many different forms, including liquids, tablets, or capsules. We’ll talk about whether men need iron supplements, how it helps men, and what to look out for.

Iron supplements for men

Iron supplements are suitable for people who don’t get enough iron in their diet or need extra iron. However, the NDDIC says that men are more at risk for a hereditary condition that causes the body to have too much iron. So men should not take supplements unless their doctor says it’s okay.

Men can get iron from food. Unlike women, who lose iron through their period, it is not hard for men to get enough iron with a healthy diet. But even if they do that, it might not be enough for them, and they could need more.

There are two different types of iron in food: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is found in animal protein and is absorbed quickly.

Non-heme iron is found in nuts, plants, and legumes and can be absorbed much lower than heme iron. The tannins present in tea or coffee can also reduce your non-heme iron intake when you drink after your meal.

It is hard for men who follow a vegetarian diet to get enough iron. Iron is in food like vegetables, but it is hard for the body to absorb iron.

Iron is essential for your muscles when they are making energy. Also, it is vital when you exercise, like running, swimming, jump roping, shadowboxing, or walking.

What is Hemochromatosis

Excess amounts of iron can lead to many diseases. The most common is hemochromatosis, which is hereditary in some people.

Men are more likely to have hereditary hemochromatosis, and they usually start showing symptoms when they are 30-50 years old. Women who have congenital hemochromatosis start showing signs on average when they are 50 years old.

Hemochromatosis is a type of disease that mostly happens to people with white skin. There are around five out of every 1,000 people affected by this disease. Hemochromatosis is less likely to affect men from other groups.

Are you getting too much iron?

Men who are predisposed to hemochromatosis can get lots of iron. This can make their organs and other glands not work well. They could even get cancer.

Too much iron can be hazardous. It affects many essential organs, like the heart and liver, the pancreas, thyroid, adrenals, and organs that produce sex hormones.

Men with too much iron can also have impotence (which means a lack of desire for sex), a low libido (lack of sex craves), decreased muscle mass and body hair, lethargy (sluggishness or apathy), and joint pain, among other symptoms.

Do men need iron?

Men need less iron during their lifetime than women do—male and female babies between seven months to one-year-old need 11 milligrams of iron every day.

This amount decreases when they grow up and then increases again when they grow into adults. Men between 14 to 18 years old need 11 milligrams of iron every day, which is also what infants need in this age range.

But it is not easy for men 19 or older to get enough iron. They need 8mg of iron each day, while pregnant women need 27mg of daily iron. So it’s better to get your iron from food, not supplements.

Most men’s bodies only use the amount of iron they need, even if they overeat red meat and eat healthily. Sometimes it can be challenging for men to get enough iron in their diet.

If you have anemia or eat foods that are low in iron, then it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor about getting some more. But always do this on your doctor’s advice, and never take more than what your doctor says is safe because there can be side effects from too much iron.

How iron supplements help men

Iron can help people have more energy. 

It can help them feel less tired. 

An iron supplement taken with a healthy diet and lifestyle can also help people with a hectic schedule. 

If you are not working out, the iron will help you have more energy too.

Men who take an iron supplement may do better in the day. 

Men can increase their mental and physical performance.