Feroglobin Iron Capsules

[Martin Webster]

My daughter(14) was advised by the dietician to start on iron supplement. Almost immediately after starting on Feroglobin iron capsules, she had similar reaction to having been gluttoned.  I noticed that the original packaging for Feroglobin iron capsules were advertised as gluten free, however, they now appear to have dropped this from the packaging.  As anyone else had a similar experience?  What is worrying is that the symptoms have not reduced after over 2 weeks (She was diagnosed 3 years ago, and have a gluten free diet since) even though we stopped taking the iron supplements after a couple of days.

[trents]

Is this a buffered (enteric) iron supplement? Iron supplements can be hard on the gut.

[Martin Webster]

  On 4/4/2021 at 1:22 PM, trents said:

Is this a buffered (enteric) iron supplement? Iron supplements can be hard on the gut.

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Thanks for your response. It doesn't mention enteric on the box, however, it does have a formulated "slow release action", which would imply a buffered supplement. At this point, it is difficult to understand whether it is a reaction to the iron, the gluten within the tablet, or the effects of a having low iron levels that resulted in the dietician recommending the iron in the first place.

[trents]

I would contact the manufacturer and find out if this iron product is still gluten free. If they can't assure you it is I would switch to another product that is gluten free.

Edited April 4, 2021 by trents

[cristiana]

  On 4/4/2021 at 12:35 PM, Martin Webster said:

My daughter(14) was advised by the dietician to start on iron supplement. Almost immediately after starting on Feroglobin iron capsules, she had similar reaction to having been gluttoned.  I noticed that the original packaging for Feroglobin iron capsules were advertised as gluten free, however, they now appear to have dropped this from the packaging.  As anyone else had a similar experience?  What is worrying is that the symptoms have not reduced after over 2 weeks (She was diagnosed 3 years ago, and have a gluten free diet since) even though we stopped taking the iron supplements after a couple of days.

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Hi Martin

If you are based in the UK - not sure? - you may see the letters PL (Product Licence) followed by a number on the packaging of prescribed and over the counter and prescription medication.  I was told by a pharmacist that if these letter appear on a medication it is gluten free.  See link below for more info.

I've had to supplement from time to time, until my haemoglobin levels actually became too good (but that's another subject!) and I found ferroglobin harsh on my gut, so much so that I got such bad diarrhea that it caused fissures and bleeding - sorry, TMI.  

My doctors suggested taking Ferrous Gluconate, first thing in the morning with lots of water.  I found this a much gentler supplement.  Also, there is a liquid supplement, Floravital which may be gentler for your daughter.  (PLEASE don't mix this up with Floradix, which has gluten in it, but has almost identical packaging).  

Hope this helps.

C.

 

   https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/food-and-nutrition/special-diets/gluten-free-diet#medicines

  On 4/4/2021 at 5:59 PM, cristiana said:

Hi Martin

If you are based in the UK - not sure? - you may see the letters PL (Product Licence) followed by a number on the packaging of prescribed and over the counter medication.  I was told by a pharmacist that if these letter appear on a medication it is gluten free.  See link below for more info.

I've had to supplement from time to time, until my haemoglobin levels actually became too good (but that's another subject!) and I found ferroglobin harsh on my gut, so much so that I got such bad diarrhea that it caused fissures and bleeding - sorry, TMI.  

My doctors suggested taking Ferrous Gluconate, first thing in the morning with lots of water.  I found this a much gentler supplement.  Also, there is a liquid supplement, Floravital which may be gentler for your daughter.  (PLEASE don't mix this up with Floradix, which has gluten in it, but has almost identical packaging).  

Hope this helps.

C.

 

   https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/food-and-nutrition/special-diets/gluten-free-diet#medicines

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[Scott Adams]

This is a great site to search for gluten in meds:

https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/index.cfm

 

[Martin Webster]

  On 4/4/2021 at 5:59 PM, cristiana said:

Hi Martin

If you are based in the UK - not sure? - you may see the letters PL (Product Licence) followed by a number on the packaging of prescribed and over the counter and prescription medication.  I was told by a pharmacist that if these letter appear on a medication it is gluten free.  See link below for more info.

I've had to supplement from time to time, until my haemoglobin levels actually became too good (but that's another subject!) and I found ferroglobin harsh on my gut, so much so that I got such bad diarrhea that it caused fissures and bleeding - sorry, TMI.  

My doctors suggested taking Ferrous Gluconate, first thing in the morning with lots of water.  I found this a much gentler supplement.  Also, there is a liquid supplement, Floravital which may be gentler for your daughter.  (PLEASE don't mix this up with Floradix, which has gluten in it, but has almost identical packaging).  

Hope this helps.

C.

 

   https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/food-and-nutrition/special-diets/gluten-free-diet#medicines

 

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Thanks for the reply, 

We are based in the UK. Looking at the packaging it appears to be classifying itself as a "Food Supplement", and doesn't appear to contain a PL number. Doing a search doesn't seem to help. I thought all food products require to have in bold if they contain gluten? Or is this me just being naïve.

I shall try to get in contact with the Manufacturer and hospital/dietician on Tuesday. At the moment any food that she consumes is causing stomach pains/headaches and starting to think that surely a gluten attack should have "eased" up with the iron tablets being consumed more than 2 weeks ago. 

My daughter/wife have moved out to a local hotel as we are also having building work on the house and are worried that the plaster dust may also contain gluten.

[cristiana]

Hi Martin

I have to say I find labelling a real minefield.  As far as I am aware you are quite right - all food products have to state in bold if they contain gluten.  That said, over the past few years I have eaten foods containing no such warning and I have had symptoms.  Then I google various forums and find out others have had similar issues. 

Is it possible, perhaps, that she has developed a food intolerance - such as dairy, oats, etc?   Has she started to eat anything new in her diet that is upsetting her, other than the iron?  Is it possible that she has been eating a product that may have been recalled, because gluten has been found?  These things may be worth looking at.

But in any case I think it is a very good idea to contact the people you mention.   I do hope you find the answers you are looking for.

C

 

Edited April 5, 2021 by cristiana

[Martin Webster]

  On 4/5/2021 at 3:19 PM, cristiana said:

Hi Martin

I have to say I find labelling a real minefield.  As far as I am aware you are quite right - all food products have to state in bold if they contain gluten.  That said, over the past few years I have eaten foods containing no such warning and I have had symptoms.  Then I google various forums and find out others have had similar issues. 

Is it possible, perhaps, that she has developed a food intolerance - such as dairy, oats, etc?   Has she started to eat anything new in her diet that is upsetting her, other than the iron?  Is it possible that she has been eating a product that may have been recalled, because gluten has been found?  These things may be worth looking at.

But in any case I think it is a very good idea to contact the people you mention.   I do hope you find the answers you are looking for.

C

 

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HI Cristiana, 

Quick Update: I got in contact with the manufacturer for the iron tablets who confirmed that the iron capsules are safe (they dropped the "gluten free" label from the packaging as they are just going through a process of getting the capsules tested).

However, Did I mentioned the building work? Well, there has been quite a bit of plaster dust around the house, and we got hold of some "gluten testing kits", which allowed us to test the dust for gluten... We did a variety of tests, and the building dust come back with a positive "gluten" test. I ran the test twice, and also tested using gluten-free flour, plain flour, and the iron capsules. So the only thing we can do is move out for a couple of weeks until the building work is complete, and can do a full clean.    

[cristiana]

  On 4/8/2021 at 3:03 PM, Martin Webster said:

HI Cristiana, 

Quick Update: I got in contact with the manufacturer for the iron tablets who confirmed that the iron capsules are safe (they dropped the "gluten free" label from the packaging as they are just going through a process of getting the capsules tested).

However, Did I mentioned the building work? Well, there has been quite a bit of plaster dust around the house, and we got hold of some "gluten testing kits", which allowed us to test the dust for gluten... We did a variety of tests, and the building dust come back with a positive "gluten" test. I ran the test twice, and also tested using gluten-free flour, plain flour, and the iron capsules. So the only thing we can do is move out for a couple of weeks until the building work is complete, and can do a full clean.    

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Martin... good detective work!  I have read of this issue somewhere else.  It would never have occurred to me.  

I'm so sorry you have to move - I hope the hotel you mentioned in an earlier email isn't too pricey!

I would really like to try getting hold of the gluten kits you mentioned, I've never thought to look if they were available in the UK although I know they are on sale in America. 

[Martin Webster]

  On 4/8/2021 at 3:14 PM, cristiana said:

Martin... good detective work!  I have read of this issue somewhere else.  It would never have occurred to me.  

I'm so sorry you have to move - I hope the hotel you mentioned in an earlier email isn't too pricey!

I would really like to try getting hold of the gluten kits you mentioned, I've never thought to look if they were available in the UK although I know they are on sale in America. 

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These are the tests that we used:

https://www.imutest.com/products/gluten-in-food-kit?variant=47212546644

Not cheap, but useful as a last resort and seem pretty acurate.

[cristiana]

Thanks for sharing, never heard of them.  This could be fantastic if I'm ever in a position where someone offers me a plate of food that they say is gluten free, but it turns out not to be - I'd rather find out this way, than getting ill!  It's happened all too many times before!

[Scott Adams]

  On 4/8/2021 at 3:03 PM, Martin Webster said:

HI Cristiana, 

Quick Update: I got in contact with the manufacturer for the iron tablets who confirmed that the iron capsules are safe (they dropped the "gluten free" label from the packaging as they are just going through a process of getting the capsules tested).

However, Did I mentioned the building work? Well, there has been quite a bit of plaster dust around the house, and we got hold of some "gluten testing kits", which allowed us to test the dust for gluten... We did a variety of tests, and the building dust come back with a positive "gluten" test. I ran the test twice, and also tested using gluten-free flour, plain flour, and the iron capsules. So the only thing we can do is move out for a couple of weeks until the building work is complete, and can do a full clean.    

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It's great that you shared this because rumors that dry wall could contain gluten have been around for a long time, but testing it is the only way to know for sure, and now we can say this isn't just a rumor!