Iron is an essential mineral and an important component of proteins involved in oxygen transport and metabolism. Almost two-thirds of the iron in your body is found in hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to your body’s tissues.

Adult men and post-menopausal women lose very little iron except through bleeding.(These individuals should only take iron supplements when prescribed by their qualified health care provider because of the risk of iron overload. Iron overload is a condition in which excess iron is found in the blood and stored in organs such as the liver and heart.) Women with heavy monthly periods can lose a significant amount of iron.