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Follow your doctor’s instructions for using iron supplements
Eating vitamin C–rich foods with meals and taking 100 to 500 mg of vitamin C with iron supplements will improve your iron absorption
Drinking coffee or tea with iron supplements inhibits absorption
Iron deficiency can have many non-nutritional causes, including some serious diseases, so work with your doctor to investigate why you are low in iron
To avoid possible problems related to iron overload, have your blood tested regularly for both high and low iron while you are taking iron supplements
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Last Review: 05-11-2011
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