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What dose of iron supplement should I take for my iron deficiency?

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Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I am in my early twenties, and my body weight is 210 pounds. Recently, I got some blood investigations done, and the findings are as follows:

  1. Iron: 46 mcg/dL.
  2. Ferritin: 5 mcg/L.
  3. Iron saturation: 12 percent.
  4. Low MCH and MCH.
  5. Hemoglobin: 12.6 g/dL.

I bought an iron supplement, and it contains 18 mg of iron, but it does not specifically say what type of iron it is, heme, elemental and so on.

I also want to know how much I need to take for my iron deficiency. Is 18 mg enough, or should I be taking 2 mg or 3 mg?

Please help.

Thank you.
Answered by Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri is an experienced General Physician and Pathologist with extensive years of clinical expertise. He specializes in diagnosing and managing a wide range of medical conditions while providing holistic care to patients. As a Pathologist, he is skilled in performing and interpreting laboratory investigations that aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Dr. Rajendragiri is dedicated to delivering patient-focused care with a strong emphasis on preventive medicine and overall well-being.

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Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Elemental iron means the total amount of iron available for absorption by your body in the tablet. 18 mg elemental iron is not enough to treat iron deficiency anemia.

Your hemoglobin level is not very low, so you could probably have mild iron deficiency anemia for which there is no need to take supplements.

You can take iron-rich foods like red meat, green leafy vegetables, beans, etc., to treat it.

If you want to take the supplement, then the tablet Orofer can be taken, which contains 100 mg of elemental iron and 550 mcg of Folic Acid. You need to take it only for two to three weeks to replenish your iron stores.

You can send me pictures of your iron supplement that you have been taking to comment on that.

I hope I have answered your question.

Let me know if you have more questions in mind.

Thank you.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan
Published At February 20, 2022
Reviewed At June 9, 2026

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri is an experienced General Physician and Pathologist with extensive years of clinical expertise. He specializes in diagnosing and managing a wide range of medical conditions while providing holistic care to patients. As a Pathologist, he is skilled in performing and interpreting laboratory investigations that aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Dr. Rajendragiri is dedicated to delivering patient-focused care with a strong emphasis on preventive medicine and overall well-being.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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Education:

BDS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Sneha Kannan is a skilled Dental Surgeon with expertise in providing general dental care, including scaling, fillings, and preventive treatments. She does oral surgery procedures such as extractions and minor surgical interventions. She does procedures in restorative dentistry, including crowns, bridges, and dentures. She is an expert in doing endodontic treatments such as root canal therapy. She is well-versed in doing procedures in cosmetic dentistry, including teeth whitening and smile correction. She can provide pediatric dental care for children’s oral health and preventive treatments. She promotes oral hygiene awareness and preventive dental practices.  

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Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri
Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri

Pathology

Consult this doctor

Education:

MBBS

Professional Bio:

Dr. Goswami Parth Rajendragiri is an experienced General Physician and Pathologist with extensive years of clinical expertise. He specializes in diagnosing and managing a wide range of medical conditions while providing holistic care to patients. As a Pathologist, he is skilled in performing and interpreting laboratory investigations that aid in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. Dr. Rajendragiri is dedicated to delivering patient-focused care with a strong emphasis on preventive medicine and overall well-being.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Consult other doctors in the same speciality
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