British Doctor Warns: Iron Supplements Linked to Colon Cancer Risk
In a country where nearly half of Britons use dietary supplements at least once a month to achieve optimal health, a British doctor has raised alarms about one of the most commonly used tablets in the UK, which might expose users to an increased risk of colon cancer.
Excessive intake of certain iron supplements more than once a day can lead to side effects like diarrhea, constipation, and gut inflammation, conditions linked to ulcerative colitis.
Dr. Ahmed Abdelbari, a UK general practitioner, highlighted in a TikTok video viewed nearly 550,000 times, that overuse of these supplements can also affect how the intestines absorb other minerals.
Research has long suggested that taking this supplement in excessive amounts could increase the risk of colorectal cancer, which claims about 17,000 British lives annually, with rising numbers among those under 50.
These oral tablets,
Prescribed to treat iron deficiency or available over-the-counter under names like ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate, or ferrous gluconate, are frequently misused. Dr. Abdelbari notes, “This is one of the most commonly prescribed medications, yet everyone prescribes it incorrectly – despite guideline changes more than two years ago.”
According to “The Mail”, the doctor advises, “This should be taken once a day, not twice or three times (…) Sometimes, taking one tablet every two days is just as beneficial.”
He explains,
“The reason is that when you take iron orally, it increases a protein called hepcidin, which blocks the transporter responsible for moving iron from the intestines into the blood.”
“This increase lasts for 24 hours. So, after taking iron once, taking more will only lead to iron accumulation in your gut. (…) This can cause gut inflammation, potentially leading to diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain.”
Moreover, he adds, “If you do this for an extended period and take iron more than once daily, it might affect the gut microbiome, potentially leading to insufficient absorption of other vitamins and minerals (…) There are very few reasons to take iron more than once a day, so if you do, please ask your doctor why. It’s likely they might not be keeping up with the latest guidelines.”
Per the National Health Service (NHS) guidelines, men should consume around 8.7 mg of iron
daily, while women aged 19-49 are recommended 14.8 mg.
Iron tablets sold for about 2.50 pounds in British pharmacies typically contain around 14 mg per
tablet. However, the NHS also suggests that Britons “should be able to get all the iron they need
from their daily diet.”
Research has indicated that high iron levels can increase the risk of complications like liver
cirrhosis, diabetes, or heart failure, and might contribute to oxidative damage in cells, potentially
leading to colon cancer.
According to the British newspaper, there are approximately 44,000 new cases of colorectal
cancer each year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in
both countries. The rise among younger demographics, linked to modern diets, chemical
exposure, and lifestyle patterns, is particularly concerning.
