What are the symptoms of iron overload?

Dr. Michael Roizen, MD

Internal Medicine

Early symptoms of iron overload include abdominal pain, fatigue, and loss of sex drive. Later symptoms include enlargement of the liver, diabetes, arthritis, and shrinking of the testicles. In severe cases, abnormal heart beat and even heart failure can occur.

Continue Learning about Minerals

Carotenoids: The Calcium Side Your Bones Crave

Keep your skeleton strong and fracture-free by serving that calcium supplement with a healthy salad on the side. Salad? Yep, salad. A 4-year study fo...

Dariush Mozaffarian, MD

The amount of selenium in foods varies widely, as it depends on the selenium content of the soil whe...

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The following foods are vegetarian-friendly sources of iron: Dried beans Dark green vegetables s...

Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Minerals

Our bodies need some inorganic substances like iron, calcium and chromium for proper health. If you're not getting enough of a particular mineral, there are a wide array of mineral supplements available. Often it is not as easy to take in or absorb minerals by themselves, so look for recommendations about taking supplements with a meal or seeing how supplements are frequently combined -- like calcium with vitamin D.

Learn More