Contents
Overview
Midwives
Spatone Iron Contents Comparison
Spatone Reference Chart
Download Spatone Leaflets
Overview
The World Health Organisation stated that iron deficiency anaemia is the single most common mineral deficiency world-wide. Therefore in clinical practice, this often results in iron supplementation for various groups of patients:-
- Pregnancy with > 30% of women iron deficient in their childbearing years, and the heavy demand for iron in the last trimester, many women need supplementation during pregnancy.
- Trauma and blood loss increase the need to quickly restore iron levels, either as oral supplementation or in conjunction with transfused blood products.
- Renal Failure the particular problems experienced with dialysis patients, where both erythroprotein and iron are lost and require supplementation.
- Gastro-intestinal Disorders problems with mal-absorption often necessitates the need for extra iron.
- Children rapid growth spurts in early childhood, together with poor dietary intake may result in iron deficiency. Studies have shown a correlation between iron deficiency anaemia and cognitive development.
- Elderly: Due to achlorhydria and compounded by poor dietary intake, absorption of iron may be impaired.
Non Compliance one of the main concerns in clinical practice is non compliance of iron supplementation resulting in poor management of iron deficiency anaemia.
Due to the complexity of iron absorption in the body; dietary factors and heavy demand to replace iron stores, patients often experience the well documented gastro-intestinal effects, which make it difficult to adhere to treatment.
Many practitioners have experimented with different treatment regimes to overcome this issue, but this still remains a barrier to resolve long-term iron deficiency.
Aids to absorption
Iron absorption in the body is complex and depends very much on the dietary patterns and intake of the individual patient . Care in advising the patient about an iron rich diet and the co-factors involved is crucial to aid the uptake of iron effectively.
It is well known that vitamin C enhances the uptake of iron, together with meat products. Vegetarians may be at risk of iron deficiency anaemia. Common foods that inhibit iron absorption are polyphenols in tea and phytates in wholegrains.
Some medications may also inhibit iron absorption when taken at the same time.
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Midwives
FACT Iron is used in the production of most steroid hormones.
Iron deficiency anaemia is a common problematic feature within midwifery practice.
It is responsible for undermining a women's health during her pregnancy and may pose serious risks to her pregnancy and birth outcomes if it is not adequately resolved.
Due to the heavy demand for iron, particularly in the last trimester, many women become depleted in their iron stores. Supplementation is often required, but the gastro intestinal effects associated with conventional iron leads to non-compliance. Consequently high risk management for the womens remaining pregnancy and labour is employed.
Spatone is a natural spa water which contains iron already in solution. The iron is not added, it is already there as it pours from the rock, making Spatone a 100% natural supplement with no additives.
Spatone is a gentle, 100% natural iron rich supplement that is gentle on the gastro-intestinal system. Only needs to be taken in small quantities to meet the RDA and this helps to avoid the common side effects often associated with taking manufactured iron preparations. Spatone is fast acting; the iron should be in the bloodstream within 20-30 minutes if taken on an empty stomach.
Seminars for midwives:
Iron absorption is complex and dependant on the individuals dietary patterns and intake.
Want to know more and dispel the myths of iron absorption and supplementation?
Nelson is promoting awareness amongst midwives, sponsoring a free national campaign of educational seminars on iron absorption and supplementation. We will sponsor refreshments too!
If you would like to register your interest, please send an email here, remembering to include your full address and day time contact numbers.
Spatone Absorbtion
Spatone has been clinically proven to be a highly absorbable source of iron, avoiding the gastro-intestinal side effects sometimes associated with supplemental iron intake.
Because the iron in Spatone is in solution, it is more easily assimilated and absorbed in the body. Consequently this formula enhances bio-availability (up to 40%) without side effects such as constipation and head aches that are sometimes associated with taking conventional iron resulting in better compliance and smaller more manageable dosage.
The photos below, show the equivalent amount of broccoli and spinach you would need to eat to absorb the same amount of iron as from one sachet of Spatone!
Reference Chart for Spatone
The following chart is intended for your use as a reference when using Spatone for your patients.
| Active ingredients |
*5mg Free Ferrous Ionic state Fe 2+ clinically proven 26 to 40% bioavailability compared to an average 5 - 20% from food and 3 -10% from iron pills. |
| Usage |
One sachet a day can provide the entire average absorbed daily iron requirement for women (2 mg) children and men (1 to 1.5mg). Spatone is safe for long term use where the diet is lacking. |
| Use in pregnancy |
**During the 1st trimester and post natal, 1 sachet can provide the average extra absorbed iron requirement of 2mg/d. During the second and third trimesters a mean iron absorption of 4 mg/d is required. This may be provided by taking two sachets of Spatone which should prevent the development of iron insuficiency in most women. Users during clinical trials report no adverse reactions when taking Spatone on an empty stomach. Spatone therefore provides an effective alternative to standard ferrous sulphate without the unpleasant side effects reported by many women. |
| Presentation |
100% natural highly bioavailable iron containing spa water in a sachet.
(No additives whatsoever) |
| Age condition |
Over 2 years old. |
| Contra indications |
People who know they have genetic ***haemochromatosis or carry the haemochromatosis gene should not take iron supplements including Spatone. |
| Adverse drug reactions |
Interactions between Spatone and drugs are unlikely at the recommended levels. |
| Possible side effects |
Studies indicate that people with high iron stores will absorb little iron from Spatone. Spatone is thus a safe, effective iron food supplement which provides highly bioavailable iron for those requiring it, but should not cause iron overload in those with adequate iron stores. Oral iron therapy is associated with side effects which include gastrointestinal irritation and pain and sometimes nausea and vomiting. These side effects are related to the amount taken and are very unlikely to occur with Spatone when taken as recommended. |
| Over usage |
In order to cause acute iron toxicity in young children it is probable that the contents of over 50 sachets would need to be drunk at once. Poisoning from excessive consumption is therefore unlikely. |
| Storage precautions |
Store in cool conditions. |
| Legal category |
Unlicensed. |
| Product quantities |
28 Sachet boxes. |
| Product manufacturer |
Trefriw Wells Spa Ltd, Trefriw, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales LL27 0JS (UK) |
* typical analysis
** Assumes clients are iron insufficient Fe 5 . Spatone Bioavailability of 40% is used throughout the comparison because even at the 3 sachet usage the total amount of iron administered is only 15mg - therefore a drop in bioavailability should not occur.
*** Haemochromatosis is an inherited condition in which subjects inherit two copies of the gene (one from each parent) About 1 in 200 people in the UK have genetic haemochromatosis. Iron accumulation can eventually lead to tissue damage resulting in cirrhosis of the liver and diabetes.
It is a treatable condition and genetic testing is available.
Spatone Leaflets
The following are some of our leaflets available as a PDF download. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view these files, which is available for free download at http://www.adobe.com