Unived Women’s Iron

When Fe stores (i.e. serum ferritin- sFer) have become depleted but Hemoglobin (Hgb) has not yet declined to a level indicative of anemia, this is the beginning of functional or subclinical iron deficiency (ID), which affects compounds associated with muscle metabolism (e.g., tissue oxidative capacity), and may result in impaired endurance performance (e.g., energetic efficiency and endurance time)².

Under conditions of severe Iron Deficiency, Hemoglobin synthesis may become compromised in addition to depleted iron stores causing iron deficiency anemia (IDA). With IDA, a range of physical performance measures are affected due to reduced oxygen transport (e.g., VO_2max), as well as reduced tissue oxidative capacity (e.g., endurance capacity and energetic efficiency)².

By research, eight studies showed that subjects supplemented with Iron had improved endurance times (e.g., longer time to exhaustion), faster TT times (e.g., completed a simulated race faster), and increased energetic efficiency (e.g., completed same amount of work using less energy) compared to those supplemented with placebo².

Supports immunity[i]:

• Iron works as cofactor for many enzymes of the immune system. Its deficiency is reported to cause impairment of cell-mediated immunity, mucosal immunity and proliferation of T- cells.
• Underline inflammation may result is iron deficiency which further impairs RBC production, increases its destruction and there is reduced availability of iron. This process is called ‘nutritional immunity’ and is a defense mechanism against pathogens as they survive on free iron molecules. It is very important in this case to monitor the ferritin levels which indicate the iron stores of the body. If ferritin levels are low then the immunity of the person may be compromised after recovery from pathogens.

Thus Unived’s Women’s Iron being uniquely packed with vitamin C helps maintain higher serum ferritin levels which further prevents the compromise of hemoglobin synthesis. With adequate hemoglobin and iron levels there is enough oxygen transfer to tissues and Red blood cell generation thus it helps to reduce fatigue, breathlessness, prevents the risk of development of iron deficiency and increases endurance capacity and performance. Helps maintain adequate stores of ferritin iron and hemoglobin to support healthy pregnancy, monthly menstrual blood loss, immunity and prevent premature hair greying.

[i] Ranjit Kumar Chandra, “Iron-Zinc, Immune Responses, and Infection”, Nutrition, Immunity, and Infection in Infants and Children, edited by Robert M. Suskind and Kraisid Tontisirin. Nestle Nutrition Workshop Series, Pediatric Program, Vol. 45. Nestec Ltd., Vevey/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia ©2001.

Heme and Non Heme Iron: Dietary iron occurs in three major forms: ferrous iron (Fe2+), ferric iron (Fe3+), and heme iron (Fe2+ chelated into a complex organic compound to complete the heme structure, which occurs in hemoglobin, myoglobin, and certain enzymes).

A person can obtain iron from food in two different forms: heme and non heme. Heme iron is derived from hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that delivers oxygen to cells. Foods of animal origin have heme iron because these foods contained hemoglobin originally. Dietary iron from plant foods is called nonheme iron and is usually in ferric form. Heme iron is absorbed better than nonheme iron because heme iron can be absorbed directly into the small intestine, whereas nonheme iron requires a carrier. Vitamin C acts as a carrier and increases iron absorption^1,[i].

Oral Iron supplements are commercially available as Fe salts and heme supplements, with the latter being more bioavailable. All of the ferrous salts have comparable rates of absorption and incidence of gastrointestinal adverse effects (e.g., constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and darkened stools)².

Ferrous form of iron is more close to heme iron. Ferrous bisglycinate is an iron amino acid chelate. It is formed by reaction of ferrous iron with two molecules of the amino acid glycine by a covalent bound in a process called chelation. Ferrous bisglycinate is known to have better compliance because of fewer gastrointestinal tract side effects. It also improves iron absorption, storage and increase hemoglobin level better than the conventionally used iron salts[ii].

[i] Sean R. Lynch and James D. Cook, “Interaction Of Vitamin C And Iron”, Annals New York Academy of Sciences, 1980

[ii] By Ma. Agnes A. Santiago, et. al., “Comparison of the efficacy of iron amino acid chelate and ferrous sulfate in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women seen at the out-patient department of a tertiary medical center on 2016-2017*”, Volume 42, Number 6, PJOG November-December 2018