You could possibly be taking a typical complement the WRONG method, physician warns – as analysis finds colon most cancers danger

Almost half of Brits admit to taking a supplement at least once a month in the pursuit of achieving optimum health. 

But one of the UK’s most popular pills could be putting users at risk of potentially serious gut problems, an expert has warned. 

Taking some types of iron supplements more than once a day may cause diarrhoea, constipation and inflammation in the bowel — which has been linked to conditions like Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

It could also affect how the gut absorbs other minerals, UK-based GP, Dr Ahmed Abd Elbary, said in a TikTok video seen almost 550,000 times.

Research has long suggested the supplement — taken in excess — could too raise the risk of bowel cancer which kills almost 17,000 Brits each year — and is climbing in the under 50s. 

The pills, which are taken orally, can be prescribed by doctors for iron deficiency, and purchased over the counter under the medical names ferrous fumerate, ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate. 

Dr Elbary said: ‘This is one of the most common medications we prescribe and yet everyone’s prescribed it wrong — even though the guidelines were changed over two years ago. 

‘This needs to be taken once a day, not twice a day and not three times a day. 

 ‘Sometimes taking one every other day is just as good. 

‘The reason for this is when you take oral iron it increases a protein called hepcidin, which blocks a transporter that is responsible for taking iron from the gut to the blood. 

‘This is raised for 24 hours. Therefore, once you’ve taken iron once, any more will just cause iron to build up in your gut. 

‘This can cause gut inflammation which can cause diarrhoea, constipation and stomach pains.’

He added: ‘Not only that, if you’ve been doing this for long enough and taking iron more than once a day, it can affect the gut microbiome, which can cause inadequate absorption of other vitamins and minerals. 

‘There are very very few reasons to take iron more than once a day, so if you are, please ask your doctor why. 

‘The chances are, they probably just aren’t up to date with the most up-to-date guidelines.’

Under NHS guidance, men should consume roughly 8.7mg of iron per day with women aged 19-49 recommended 14.8mg. 

For women over 50, the health service advises 8.7mg given they have likely stopped having periods. 

The mineral is essential for making red blood cells, which carry oxygen and blood around the body.

This means adequate iron is crucial for a range of bodily functions — including general energy and focus, gastrointestinal processes and a healthy immune system.

Iron tablets sold over-the-counter in pharmacies for as little as £2.50 often contain around 14mg per tablet. 

But the NHS also suggests Brits ‘should be able to get all the iron you need from your daily diet’. 

Red meats such as beef, lamb and pork are touted by dieticians as rich sources of iron, with pulses and dark green vegetables including lentils, spinach and kale, good plant-based sources of iron. 

Research has long suggested that too much iron can put people at higher risk of developing complications such as cirrhosis, diabetes, or heart failure.

Excess iron can also lead to erectile dysfunction and a loss of sex drive in men and impact a woman’s menstrual cycle. 

Studies have also found high levels of iron could raise the risk of bowel cancer by causing oxidative damage to cells.

There are around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in both countries.

But cases are rising in young people, an alarming trend that experts have linked to modern diets, chemical exposure and lifestyles.

Bowel cancer symptoms include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to poo more or less frequently and blood in the stool.

Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other common signs. 

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP for advice. 

The disease, the third most common cancer in the UK, is the same type that killed Dame Deborah James at age 40 in 2022. 

Although the vast majority of diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups has either declined or held stable while diagnoses in younger adults have risen by 50 per cent over the last 30 years.

Cancer Research UK estimates that over half (54 per cent) of bowel cancer cases in the UK are preventable. 

Doctors have suggested obesity, antibiotic over-use, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water are potential triggers.