The possible dangers of supplements have become evident in recent research. For example, the American Heart Association found that melatonin is linked to a higher risk of heart failure<\/a>, which is (obviously) pretty scary<\/a> stuff.\u00a0<\/p>\n Supplement-related concerns extend to another common supplement, too. Pharmacists say it\u2019s often taken in the wrong way, or when it\u2019s not needed, and the health effects are real. That holds even though roughly 25 percent of Americans are deficient<\/a> in the mineral. For expert-backed insight and safer alternatives, keep reading.<\/p>\n \ud83e\ude7a<\/a>SIGN UP for Parade\u2019s health newsletter with expert-approved tips, healthy eats, exercises, news & more to help you stay healthy & feel your best self<\/a>\ud83d\udc8a<\/a><\/p>\n The Supplement People Take Incorrectly the Most Often karadech Pramoonsin/Getty Images<\/p>\n (karadech Pramoonsin/Getty Images)<\/p>\n In our wellness-focused society, you may (for better or worse) feel pushed to take lots of supplements, including iron. No shame here, but knowing the risks is important.<\/p>\n \u201cSocial media<\/a> plays a huge role in this, with ads everywhere promoting iron and iron supplements as harmless energy boosters, leading to self-treatment without proper diagnosis,\u201d says Dr. Kelsey Goderwis, PharmD<\/a>, the pharmacy manager for Kroger Health.<\/p>\n The fact that some people need more iron is valid. Iron deficiency is the most common form of nutritional deficiency<\/a>, according to the CDC. It can contribute to many less-than-enjoyable symptoms, too, such as hair loss<\/a>, brittle nails, restless legs, feeling depressed<\/a>, getting sick more often, trouble concentrating, dizziness, pica<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n Related: This Common Nutrient Deficiency Is Quietly Ruining Women\u2019s Sleep<\/a><\/p>\n However, that doesn\u2019t mean an iron supplement is the answer, especially for everyone. In fact, those symptoms may not even be from low iron levels. It\u2019s probably fair to say this is widely misunderstood, and here\u2019s why: According to Dr. Shannon Fitzgerald, PharmD<\/a>, a toxicologist and pharmacist who contributes to Drugwatch.com, \u201cA significant portion of people misuse iron supplements.\u201d Additionally, iron ingestion<\/a> was once the leading cause of poisoning deaths.<\/p>\n To be clear, iron isn\u2019t the only supplement that\u2019s often overconsumed\u2014and that comes back, in part, to the media piece. \u201cMore common nutritional deficiencies are frequently overtreated due to widespread reporting, screening and the ever-growing supplement market,\u201d Dr. Fitzgerald says. \u201cMany consumers seek quick-fix remedies for health concerns, and with dietary supplements remaining unregulated by the FDA and content creators dispersing health information on a myriad of platforms, the outcomes can be uncertain and even harmful.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Doctors Say You Should Avoid These 4 Popular Supplements\u2014and Take These Instead<\/a><\/p>\n That isn\u2019t to say that taking iron supplements is always a concern, however. For people who are truly deficient in iron<\/a>, supplements may help. With that said, it\u2019s vital to know if that\u2019s the case for you. If you don\u2019t know for a fact that you\u2019re iron-deficient, taking iron is not a good move.<\/p>\n \u201cConsuming iron without bloodwork<\/a> is really taking a shot in the dark,\u201d Dr. Goderwis warns. \u201cIron is not harmless; consuming too much can cause a lot of issues.\u201d<\/p>\n Pharmacists\u2019 Concerns About Iron and People Taking the Supplement Incorrectly<\/p>\n So, the million-dollar question: What\u2019s the big fuss? A plethora of issues, according to Dr. Goderwis. GI side effects include constipation<\/a> and nausea<\/a>. Too much iron can interact with or interfere with the absorption of other medications, too, making them completely unhelpful or less helpful.<\/p>\n Those aren\u2019t even the scariest effects. \u201cTaking too much iron can lead to serious health issues, including organ damage (liver, heart, pancreas), organ failure and even death,\u201d Dr. Fitzgerald says. \u201cAcute iron poisoning is a medical emergency and occurs most often in children, who sometimes accidentally ingest these supplements, mistaking them for candy.\u201d<\/p>\n Related: Too Much\u2014and Too Little\u2014of This Nutrient May Increase Your Colon Cancer Risk, Studies Show<\/a><\/p>\n Additionally, avid iron-takers need to know this surprising and concerning fact: Not all iron supplements are the same. According to Dr. Fitzgerald, they don\u2019t all provide the same absorption and general tolerance. Plus, the cheaper and more common versions can be more likely to cause gastrointestinal issues.<\/p>\n All of that is especially concerning (and, frankly, unnecessary) if you don\u2019t need more iron in the first place. To know if your iron levels are where they need to be, you\u2019ll want to get labs done, not just rely on symptoms.<\/p>\n The bottom line is this: Labs or no labs, taking iron supplements without a medical provider\u2019s support is something to avoid. \u201cIron supplementation is not \u2018one size fits all,\u2019\u201d Dr. Goderwis says. \u201cAs with any health condition, diagnosis and treatment should be guided by a qualified provider and monitored at regular intervals.\u201d<\/p>\n Up Next:<\/p>\n Sources:<\/p>\n This story was originally published by Parade<\/a> on Jan 31, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness<\/a> section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Confession time: While I wouldn\u2019t call myself an avid supplement-popper, I’m probably too lax about taking them. The…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":400672,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[61],"tags":[97,139251,210529,269,210530,582],"class_list":["post-448559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-health","tag-iron-supplements","tag-kelsey-goderwis","tag-nutrition","tag-shannon-fitzgerald","tag-supplements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=448559"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448559\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/400672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=448559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=448559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=448559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"karadech](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/58c05119a245676a46ca57a9358610d4.jpeg\"\/)
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