Sumalate®: A More Absorbable Form of Iron
June 22, 2015
Like calcium, and other essential vitamins, expecting mothers need an increase of iron in their diets to support themselves and their babies growing bodies. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, mothers need for iron increases from 15-18 mg of iron a day to 27 mg.1 Iron is found in many foods and is also available in dietary supplements. Since it is often hard to ingest the necessary amounts of iron, a dietary supplement containing iron is often recommended by doctors, especially for women who are or have a history of anemia. There are many different types of iron supplements available, and many prenatal vitamins contain some form of iron supplement.
However, Sumalate®, the iron found in Prenate Pixie® and Prenate Mini®, is an extremely advanced and absorbable form. Sumalate® allows for maximum absorption of iron with little to no side effects.
Iron is essential in transferring oxygen throughout the body, so the quicker it is released the better for an expecting mother.1 Without iron in the blood, the growing baby would not be receiving the necessary amount of oxygen it needs to develop strong heart, lungs, and muscles. Also, during pregnancy red cell masses and plasma volumes expand due to maternal red blood cell production. Because of this drastic expansion and to meet the developmental needs of the fetus and the placenta, the available iron must increase substantially. Therefore, a highly soluble, readily available and easily absorbable form of iron, such as Sumalate®, would be very beneficial to aid in this process.
There are two different types of preparation for iron dietary supplements, extended or sustained release preparations or immediate release preparations2. Extended or sustained release preparations are designed for those that process iron in the body too quickly. Immediate release preparations give the body the iron it needs almost instantaneously. So for expecting mothers who need more iron, immediate release preparations is the best option. Sumalate® is an immediate release form of iron. Therefore, it does not slowly breakdown in the body and then release to the needed areas. Instead, it immediately breaks down and releases to the body where needed. In fact, Sumalate® is three times more absorbable than common forms of iron found in dietary supplements. Also, Prenate Pixie® and Prenate Mini® both have two iron absorption promoters. Both vitamin C and succinic acid help with the absorption of iron into the body, thus making it even easier for an expecting mother to receive the necessary amount of iron she needs2.
Iron supplements can often have harsh side effects. Generally these side effects cause a disturbance in the GI tract. This can cause upset stomach, stomach pains, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting.3 Often taking your dietary supplement with food will reduce these side effects. However, iron supplements are generally recommended to be taken on an empty stomach so the body is better able to absorb the iron. With Sumalate® these side effects are minimal allowing it to be taken on an empty stomach.
Sumalate® found in Prenate Pixie® and Prenate Mini® has many advantages for an expecting mother. You are able to receive the healthy dose of iron in the most absorbable form without having to suffer the side effects of normal iron dietary supplements. Talk with your doctor today to see if Prenate Pixie® or Prenate Mini® are right for you.
