![\"Iron](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Iron-pill.jpg\")
People who take this supplement should be aware of one crucial thing, says the doctor(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nThere’s one thing those who take a certain supplement should keep in mind, according to Dr Karan Rajan.<\/p>\n
15:31, 05 May 2025Updated 15:37, 05 May 2025<\/p>\n
People who take this supplement should be aware of one crucial thing, says the doctor(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Millions of people in the UK <\/a>take supplements. Whether for a vitamin deficiency or as a food replacement, a huge proportion of the population take prescribed or store-bought supplements every day. But a doctor has issued a stark warning to anyone who takes one type of supplement in particular.<\/p>\n Dr Karan Rajan can often be found on TikTok<\/a>, sharing advice and spreading his medical knowledge. Boasting over five million followers on the social media platform, the doctor is a well-trusted source of health<\/a> advice for many.<\/p>\n A video on his TikTok page warns anyone who takes iron supplements of one thing that can prevent them from working. The doctor said: “Most people don’t know this, including a few doctors.”<\/p>\n Millions of people in the UK take iron supplements, according to Imperial College London.<\/p>\n But Dr Rajan has warned all of these people of something that can hinder how well these supplements work.<\/p>\n He said: “There is one very important thing you need to know if you’re prescribed iron supplements which can impact your treatment and how you absorb it.<\/p>\n “If you consume too much calcium, either in supplement form or in food<\/a>, this can actually impact iron absorption.<\/p>\n “And if your dietary iron is already low, this could lead to a deficiency.”<\/p>\n The doctor explains how calcium competes with iron for absorption in your intestines.<\/p>\n High levels of calcium in your body can also have an impact on your body’s ability to absorb non-heme iron, which the health expert explains is the kind of iron you get from plant-based foods.<\/a><\/p>\n Dr Rajan continues: “That’s why many people recommend taking iron supplements with a source of vitamin C to improve absorption.”<\/p>\n Indeed, a study <\/a>from the National Institutes of Health explained that vitamin C is the only dietary constituent other than animal tissue that has been shown to promote iron absorption.<\/p>\n Dr Karan Rajan continued by explaining the particular types of calcium that can hinder how well our bodies absorb iron.<\/p>\n He said: “Calcium salts like calcium carbonate, which is commonly found in heartburn and indigestion remedies, are alkaline which can hinder iron absorption.”<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile<\/strong><\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n If you do usually take both calcium and iron supplements, the doctor recommends taking them at different times of day, a few hours apart.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/1746469690_122_consent-placeholder.svg.svg+xml\")
Content cannot be displayed without consent<\/p>\n![\"Calcium](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Calcium.jpg\")
Calcium can hinder how well our bodies absorb iron, said the doctor(Image: Denise Bush via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_WACOMMUNITYQR2.png\")
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