Meta Information
ID:iron-liposomal
Name:
Schema Version:AIM-2.0
Interactions
Target id:
/condition/hemochromatosis
Target name:
Hemochromatosis (Iron Overload)
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
adverse
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
Individuals with hemochromatosis have a genetic condition causing excessive iron accumulation, and supplemental iron can lead to severe organ damage and toxicity.
Actionable advice:
Do not take any form of iron supplement if you have hemochromatosis or other iron-loading anemias.
Target id:
/biomarker/ferritin
Target name:
Ferritin Monitoring
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
requirement
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
Ferritin levels directly reflect the body's iron stores; supplementation should be guided by these levels to avoid both deficiency and dangerous overload.
Actionable advice:
Regularly monitor ferritin levels before starting and during iron supplementation to ensure safety and efficacy.
Target id:
/intervention/levothyroxine_systemic_disease
Target name:
Levothyroxine
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
4
Hours after target:
4
Description:
Iron forms an insoluble complex with levothyroxine in the gastrointestinal tract, which dramatically reduces the absorption and effectiveness of the thyroid medication.
Actionable advice:
Separate iron and levothyroxine doses by at least 4 hours.
Target id:
/class/chelating-antibiotics
Target name:
Tetracycline & Quinolone Antibiotics
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
4
Description:
Iron binds with tetracycline and quinolone antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline, ciprofloxacin) in the gut, forming a non-absorbable complex that reduces the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
Actionable advice:
Take iron at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after these antibiotics.
Target id:
/intervention/bisphosphonates
Target name:
Bisphosphonates (e.g., Alendronate)
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Iron and other multivalent cations significantly reduce the absorption of bisphosphonate drugs used for bone density, impairing their therapeutic effect.
Actionable advice:
Separate iron and bisphosphonate doses by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/intervention/penicillamine
Target name:
Penicillamine
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Iron binds to penicillamine in the gut, significantly reducing its absorption and effectiveness for conditions like Wilson's disease or rheumatoid arthritis.
Actionable advice:
Separate iron and penicillamine doses by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/intervention/mycophenolate-mofetil
Target name:
Mycophenolate Mofetil
Severity:
major
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
4
Description:
Iron supplements can significantly decrease the absorption of mycophenolate, an immunosuppressant drug, potentially leading to treatment failure or organ rejection.
Actionable advice:
Separate iron from mycophenolate by at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after.
Target id:
/intervention/vitamin_c_systemic_healthspan
Target name:
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
synergistic
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
0
Hours after target:
0
Description:
Vitamin C enhances iron absorption by maintaining iron in its more soluble ferrous (Fe2+) state and may improve overall iron utilization, even with liposomal formulations.
Actionable advice:
Take Vitamin C at the same time as your iron supplement to improve absorption.
Target id:
/intervention/levodopa
Target name:
Levodopa
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Iron can form a chelate with levodopa in the gastrointestinal tract, which may decrease the amount of levodopa absorbed and reduce its effectiveness.
Actionable advice:
Separate iron and levodopa doses by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/intervention/methyldopa
Target name:
Methyldopa
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Iron supplements can form complexes with methyldopa, reducing its absorption and potentially its blood pressure-lowering effects.
Actionable advice:
Separate iron and methyldopa doses by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/procedure/fecal-occult-blood-test
Target name:
Fecal Occult Blood Test (Guaiac)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
assay_interference
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
72
Hours after target:
null
Description:
Oral iron supplements can chemically interfere with guaiac-based fecal occult blood tests, leading to a false-positive result for gastrointestinal bleeding.
Actionable advice:
Discontinue iron supplements for at least 3 days before collecting a stool sample for this test.
Target id:
/biomarker/iron-panel
Target name:
Iron Panel (Serum Iron, TIBC, Transferrin Saturation)
Severity:
moderate
Interaction type:
requirement
Nature:
absolute
Temporal spacing:
null
Description:
A complete iron panel provides a comprehensive view of iron status, including transport and available iron, which is crucial for proper dosing and safety.
Actionable advice:
Obtain a full iron panel along with ferritin to guide supplementation.
Target id:
/class/chelating-minerals
Target name:
High-Dose Chelating Minerals (Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium)
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
High doses of other minerals like calcium, zinc, and magnesium can compete with iron for absorption, although the liposomal formulation significantly mitigates this effect.
Actionable advice:
As a precaution, separate high-dose mineral supplements from liposomal iron by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/class/acid-suppressors
Target name:
Gastric Acid Suppressors (PPIs, H2 Blockers)
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
2
Hours after target:
2
Description:
While liposomal iron is designed to be less dependent on stomach acid for absorption than traditional iron salts, profound acid suppression may still slightly reduce its bioavailability.
Actionable advice:
If possible, separate doses from acid-suppressing medications by at least 2 hours.
Target id:
/class/polyphenol-rich-foods
Target name:
Polyphenol-Rich Foods & Drinks (Tea, Coffee)
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
1
Hours after target:
1
Description:
Polyphenols in tea, coffee, and wine can bind to iron and inhibit its absorption; however, the liposomal coating largely protects against this interaction.
Actionable advice:
For optimal absorption, it is still best practice to separate liposomal iron from tea or coffee by 1 hour.
Target id:
/dietary/phytate-rich-foods
Target name:
Phytate-Rich Foods (Whole Grains, Legumes, Nuts)
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
1
Hours after target:
1
Description:
Phytic acid found in whole grains, legumes, and nuts can bind to iron, reducing its absorption, though the liposomal formulation offers significant protection.
Actionable advice:
Take liposomal iron at least 1 hour away from meals very high in unprocessed grains or legumes.
Target id:
/dietary/meal
Target name:
Any Caloric Meal
Severity:
minor
Interaction type:
diminishing
Nature:
temporal
Temporal spacing:
Hours before target:
1
Hours after target:
2
Description:
Food can slightly decrease the absorption of liposomal iron, although it is much less affected than traditional iron salts and is often better tolerated with a meal.
Actionable advice:
For maximum absorption, take on an empty stomach 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.