Dr Khan said the findings flew in the face of previous medical theory
13:59, 19 Jun 2026 Updated 14:17, 19 Jun 2026
Dr Amir Khan has spoken out about a deficiency one in three women suffer from in the UK. Iron deficiency anaemia is often caused due to blood loss or pregnancy .
It can be treated with either tablets or increasing your diet of iron-rich foods, such as red meat, green leafy vegetables, and beans. Dr Khan - who is a well-known face in the medical community thanks to his social media presence and daytime television appearances - said he was approached in the gym by a woman asking about iron deficiency .
She apparently told him that she was taking iron supplements, but that her levels were not going up. Dr Khan pointed to a 2020 study which suggested that taking iron supplements every other day rather than every day could actually improve iron absorption.
He explained: "In the gym today, a lady came to talk to me about her iron levels and she told me she's taking iron every day but her levels are not going up. And I've told her this so I'm going to tell you, because it really surprised her.
"For years, we've told women with low iron to take iron tablets daily. In the past, we used to say twice a day. But a really interesting study found that taking iron every other day may actually help your body absorb more iron than taking it every day. Now, I know that sounds crazy, I know, but let me explain why.
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"Your body has a hormone called hepcidin. Think of it as your iron gatekeeper or bouncer. When you take an iron tablet, hepcidin levels go up and tell your gut, 'actually, we've got enough iron now, close the doors'. The problem is, those doors can stay partially closed for about a day or more. So, if you take another iron tablet the very next day, your body may not absorb it as efficiently because those doors are still a bit closed.
"But if you leave a gap day, hepcidin levels come back down and your gut is ready to absorb iron again. Now, in this study, women with low iron stores absorbed more iron when supplements were taken on alternate days rather than consecutive days. And the researchers also found that taking iron in one dose worked better than splitting it through the day.
"So, who is this relevant for? Well, the lady in the gym, first of all. Women with heavy periods, low ferritin levels, iron deficiency, perhaps endurance athletes, if your diet is lacking in iron as well."
How do I know if I have low iron?
Symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia can include:
tiredness and lack of energy
shortness of breath
noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations)
paler than usual skin
headaches
Less common symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia (that are not usually connected to pregnancy) include:
hearing ringing, buzzing or hissing noises inside your head (tinnitus)
food tasting strange
feeling itchy
a sore tongue
hair loss – you notice more hair coming out when brushing or washing it
wanting to eat non-food items, such as paper or ice (pica)
finding it hard to swallow (dysphagia)
painful open sores (ulcers) in the corners of your mouth
nail changes, such as spoon-shaped nails
restless legs syndrome
If you think that you have low levels, you should book an appointment to see your GP. They will luikely talk about your lifestyle and medical history, while also doing a full blood count (FBC) test. Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia. There are other types of anaemia, like vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia , that the FBT will also check for.
What else did Dr Khan say?
"Now, I don't want you to change your treatment if you've been prescribed something, go and speak to your own healthcare professional because I don't know your full history," Dr Khan said. "Particularly if you've got a significant iron deficiency, or if you're pregnant, or have a medical condition that affects absorption, you should always follow the advice of your own healthcare professional, they know you better than I do.
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"But for many women with uncomplicated iron deficiency, an alternate-day approach may actually improve absorption, and often causes fewer side effects as well, because nobody likes those iron tablets - cause constipation, bloating, nausea. Anyway, that's what I told her. I thought I'd share it with you. It might be useful, you might already know it."
Iron tablets are often prescribed as a treatment for low iron. People usually have to take them for six months. Drinking orange juice after you've taken a tablet may help your body absorb the iron.
Read the full article at Daily Mirror →
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