Before you take supplements for anemia, you need to find out why you are anemic. Your doctor will order blood tests to determine the cause.
Self-treatment of anemia without a professional diagnosis is a bad idea. This is because even though supplements may improve your anemia temporarily, you could be ignoring an important underlying problem.
For instance, the most common form of anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, is usually due to heavy menstrual periods. But iron-deficiency anemia can actually caused by any loss of blood, including a bleeding ulcer or even a tumor in your colon. In such cases, the anemia is simply a "red-flag" warning. And to mask this warning by self-treatment can be dangerous.
After your doctor has started treatment, be sure to have a blood test every month to make sure it is working.
How to Take the Supplements
These supplement recommendations are only to be used when the cause of your anemia has been determined, and your doctor has recommended that you take a blood-building formula (called a "hematinic").
Begin with a daily high-potency multivitamin plus a good antioxidant complex. The multi should contain enough B vitamins to prevent the second most common anemia, a B-vitamin deficiency. (The only exception to taking B vitamins is if you're diagnosed with pernicious anemia, caused by an inability to absorb vitamin B12.)
For iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor will recommend extra iron often combined with vitamin C to improve iron absorption. Blood-building formulas contain iron, vitamin C, and B complex.
For B-vitamin deficiency anemia. Folic acid-deficiency anemias are usually caused by several months of a bad diet; taking a good hematinic will correct this. B12-deficiency anemias (pernicious anemia) occur among strict vegetarians or older people who can't absorb B12;often this condition requires B12 injections. A note of caution: B-vitamin deficiency anemias can be very difficult to accurately diagnose and treat. You need to be under a physician's care for this condition.
Important:
We at WholeHealthMD strongly recommend that everyone take a high-potency multivitamin/mineral and well-balanced antioxidant complex every day. It may be necessary to adjust the dosages outlined below to account for your own daily vitamin regimen. All of our supplement recommendations also assume you are eating a healthful diet.
Be aware that certain cautions are associated with taking individual supplements, especially if you have other medical conditions and/or you're taking medications. Key cautions are given in the listing below, but you need to see the WholeHealthMD Reference Library for a comprehensive discussion of each supplement's cautions and drug/nutrient interactions.
