Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.
Hi Dr. Bob, Thanks for this GREAT site! It has helped me, and I know lots of others, a great deal! I have been dealing with iron deficiency anemia for the last few weeks. My doc thinks it has been casued by too much asprin. I was taking niacin to help control my cholesterol, and with it I took two Extra Strength Excedrin in order to control the flushing I was getting from the niacin. Then my blood sugar went up, and the dr. took me off the niacin, because of it, but I kept on taking Excedrin for tooth problems I've been having, as well as minor aches and pains. (I'm 63!) I had a routine colonoscopy a year ago, and it was normal, so we're thinking the anemia likely is from the aspirin, although we are checking for blood in the stools, etc., too. In the meantime, I've been reading up on iron, and I saw in your answer of Jan. 2, '06 to a qestion of whether or not tea affects iron absorbtion, that it doesn't. However, I googled "Iron tea absorbtion" and got an article that says "Tannates in tea can decrease [iron] absorbtion." I'll give you the site: http://library.med.utah.edu/WebPath/TUTORIAL/IRON/IRON.html
I hope you are doing well! I have just switched off of Sustiva to Viarmune, with a Truvada chaser, and my viral lead is surpressed, and my T-Cell count is 629. By the way, I'm feeling MUCH BETTER since I've been off the Sustiva...I was on it for two years, but my dreams were getting worse and worse. At first I thought they were sort of "interesting," but then they got REALLY bad, and I'm glad to be rid of them!!! All Best! Bob
P.S.: I've also read that eating an orange, or drinking orange juice with iron-rich foods helps to INCREASE iron absorbtion....
Advertisement
Response from Dr. Frascino
Hello,
Yes, it is indeed true that tannates in tea can decrease some forms of iron absorption, but this is not a common cause of iron-deficiency anemia, even in countries that drink lots and lots of tea. Hopefully your physician has found the cause of your iron-deficiency-anemia problem.
I'm glad you are responding well to and better tolerating your new HAART regimen. Sustiva dreams can indeed go from interesting to annoying quite easily.
Thanks for writing in.
Be well.
Dr. Bob
Want to read more questions and answers on this subject? Our experts have answered many similar questions!
Please remember that this forum is designed for educational purposes only, and experts are not engaged through this
forum in rendering legal or medical advice or professional services. Experts appearing on this page are independent and are solely responsible
for editing and fact-checking their material. Neither The Body nor any sponsor is the publisher or speaker of posted visitors' questions or the experts' material.
Questions and messages posted to this forum are not statements of advice, opinion, or information of The Body, Body Health Resources Corporation or any sponsor of this
forum. While neither The Body nor Body Health Resources Corporation regularly reviews posted content, we reserve the right to delete, move, or
edit postings if we deem it appropriate under the circumstances. Visitors submitting questions remain solely responsible for the content of their
messages.
Information provided by experts is general only and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease, or relied upon as
legal or other professional advice. This information is not a substitute for professional advice or care. If you have or suspect you may have a
health or legal problem, you should consult your own health care provider or your attorney.
E-Mail
Glossary
Response from Dr. Frascino
