Since we already live in Toronto, IV therapy patients don’t need to consider iron for their infusion therapy, right?

Actually, that’s not true. Although food sources of iron are readily accessible, an iron deficiency still exists among North American adults and children.

According to the health journal Blood, “Women of childbearing potential are at highest risk of [iron deficiency] due to regular menstrual losses as well as the increased iron demands of pregnancy and lactation.” In fact, some people are naturally predisposed to an iron deficiency, including: premature infants; blood donors; cancer patients; patients with gastrointestinal disorders; teenage girls; pregnant teenagers and women; women with heavy periods.

Thus, an iron deficiency can be alarming, especially since iron impacts your blood cell formation. Iron is necessary for the human body in various ways:

• Supports child development and motor skills
• Encourages healthy red blood cell production
• Carries oxygen throughout the whole body
• Helps produce hormones

Below, we highlight must-know details about an iron deficiency. We also discuss iron-related vitamin treatments to consider for optimal functioning, and how to reach us.

4 Important Facts About Iron for Toronto IV Therapy Patients

1. Iron deficiency symptoms may vary, but they include: chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath, fatigue, low energy levels, memory issues, weakened immune function; children with an iron deficiency may develop issues with learning.
2. An iron deficiency can cause anemia, which is diagnosed globally in 30% of pregnant women. “Anemia during pregnancy increases the risk of death for the mother and low birth weight for the infant. Worldwide, maternal and neonatal deaths total between 2.5 million and 3.4 million each year,” stresses the CDC.
3. Health professionals should be consulted prior to using additional iron. “Some chronic diseases—such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and some types of cancer—can interfere with the body’s ability to use its stored iron,” explained the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
4. If you consume excessive iron levels, this can trigger stomach aches, vomiting, and constipation, while lessening your zinc nutrient absorption. This is why you should seek guidance from a health care practitioner.

Toronto Iron Deficiency Treatments

If you need to expand your iron intake, a health care practitioner should be consulted, as iron levels are individualistic: “The amount of iron you need each day depends on your age, your sex, and whether you consume a mostly plant-based diet,” explains the NIH.

Also, we suggest getting blood tests done to see if you have a deficiency; this can also determine which beneficial ingredients should be part of your vitamin IV therapy for supporting iron absorption. This can be completed at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre, and, after conducting a thorough blood work review, we will suggest how to improve your iron intake. (Refer to the chart below for various vitamin therapies):

Iron Deficiency Treatment	What It Is
Dietary Changes	Eat iron-rich foods, such as red meat, pork, poultry, legumes, enriched grain foods, dark green leafy vegetables (i.e. spinach), dried apricots, and raisins.
Supplements/Oral vitamins	Naturopathic doctors will agree that discussing dosages with health professionals is necessary since iron levels are different for everyone; ask your health practitioner about a high-quality supplement that doesn’t contain fillers.
Intramuscular Shot	The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre offers this, which consists of injecting iron into the muscle. The iron is then slowly released into the blood flow.
Intravenous therapy/IV vitamin drip therapy	Depending on the severity of your iron deficiency, an iron vitamin drip treatment may be recommended in a hospital setting. An intravenous drip is inserted into the blood vessels to promote quick nutrient absorption; therapeutic doses bypass the digestive tract, so it prevents discomforts such as constipation. Please note: a referral from your family doctor or nurse practitioner will be necessary.

FYI: naturopathic doctors will likely discuss medication interactions with their patients. Iron is known to contraindicate with Levodopa, levothyroxine, proton pump inhibitors, and other medications.

Test Your Iron Levels at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre

After reading about the different vitamin therapies, how do you think your iron levels measure up? Let’s find out to help you attain optimal health.

You’re invited to visit our integrative clinic to check out your nutrient levels and mend mineral deficiencies. We offer functional medicine tests to help determine what exactly you’re deficient in. We also offer various IV therapy treatments to correct deficiencies, such as high-dose vitamin C (ascorbic acid), folic acid, a medley of amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin D, and other essential vitamin drip treatments. Treatments may be customized for helping to restore athletic performance and athletic recovery, as well as cognitive performance.

At the TFMC, our integrative patient care includes functional medicine, naturopathy, allopathic medicine and other treatments. Our practitioners consider each patient as a unique entity; all treatments are personalized for your health condition only. Some of the conditions we help with include: chronic health conditions (i.e. chronic fatigue syndrome), high blood pressure, oxidative stress, infertility, thyroid conditions, issues with adrenal function, cellular damage, thyroid conditions, and other health concerns.

Is your body lacking iron? Find out at the TFMC – book your functional medicine blood tests and IV therapy in Toronto at (416) 968-6861.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

References:

Grace Tang, Andrea Lausman, Jameel Abdulrehman, Jessica Petrucci, Rosane Nisenbaum, Lisa K. Hicks, Michelle Sholzberg; Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia during Pregnancy: A Single Centre Canadian Study. Blood 2019; 134 (Supplement_1): 3389. doi: https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2019-127602

Hartfield D. Iron deficiency is a public health problem in Canadian infants and children. Paediatr Child Health. 2010;15(6):347-350. doi:10.1093/pch/15.6.347

 “Iron” by Health Canada, Government of Canada, updated January 22, 2019, viewed on December 15, 2021.

“Iron” by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), updated March 22, 2021, viewed on Dec. 15, 2021.

“Micronutrient Facts” by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, reviewed June 28, 2021, viewed on December 3, 2021.