What is the health risk of too much iron?
Iron has a moderate to high potential for toxicity because very little iron is excreted from the body. Thus, iron can accumulate in body tissues and organs when normal storage sites are full. In children, acute toxicity can occur from overdoses of medicinal iron. Ingestion of as few as five or six high-potency tablets can provide amounts of iron that can be fatal to a child of 22 pounds. Consuming 1 to 3 grams of iron can be fatal to children under six and lower doses can cause severe symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea (64). It is important to keep iron supplements tightly capped and away from childrens reach. Any time excessive iron intake is suspected, immediately call your physician or Poison Control Center, or visit your local emergency room. In adults high intakes of iron supplements are associated with constipation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, especially when the supplements are taken on an empty stomach (1). In 2001, the Institute of Medicine set a tolerable upper intake
