why shouldn't I take iron

Hi everyone,

Just wondered why it is suggested that we don't take iron? I have tried taking boost in the past week because I have lost my appetite and it has alot of iron in it? Should I not take it? I was also wondering about pain meds? Are they safe at all to take? I have never had problems with alcohol or drugs just having some pain....most in my bones and stomach.....any advice?
Thanks in advance

[jmjm530]

Yes, many of us have to be careful with iron intake. Don't know if the amount of iron in "Boost" is significant -- ask your doctor --  but as an alternative you might try "Prosure" which seems to have very little iron in it. Prosure is formulated for cancer patients on chemo with weight-loss/nutritional issues. I used it for several months during treatment to try and gain weight.

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

http://www.prosure.com/productDetails.asp

[CockSparrow]

The reson why we shouldnt take iron is that Iron accumulates in the liver. Iron accumulation is a common in chronic hepatitis C. Here a link from Medscape. It discusses more than just Iron Accumulation. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/501268_print.
While we need Iron in order to create new blood cells so the virus also needs iron to reproduce.
So less iron is probably better.

Some other reasons are
Iron is a Heavy Metal, so you may put on weight.
Iron makes your Liver rusty
Take too much and you will turn into Popeye.
Sorry couldnt help myself.
CS

[nygirl7]

Iron helps the virus to replicate - certainly that is the LAST thing in the world anybody wants.....to help those suckers grow.

I'd take Jim's advice and switch to something that you know has the least possible amount of iron in it as possible.  In fact, my doctors were so adament about this that they said no eating food cooked out of cast iron skillets.  He was serious.

[orphanedhawk]

My heptologist said too much iron can cause cirrhosis. This is without HCV or drinking alcohol.
   We need to be good to our livers.