Hemoglobin

Nutrients connected to Hemoglobin

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• IronEstablished role

  Iron is needed to make haemoglobin. A full blood count is the test a GP uses to diagnose iron deficiency anaemia.

• Fava Beans (Broad Beans)Documented risk

  In G6PD deficiency, fava beans can destroy red blood cells and lower hemoglobin (hemolytic anemia).

• Vitamin B6Established role

  B6 helps make haemoglobin, and deficiency is linked to a form of anaemia. Haemoglobin is affected by many other causes.

• CopperDeficiency link

  Copper is needed to form haemoglobin, and copper deficiency can cause anaemia. Anaemia has other causes too, such as low iron.

• GuavaPreliminary or mixed

  In trials in Indian children, adding guava to an iron-containing meal raised hemoglobin; a Mexican juice trial found a marginal effect.

• Brown roll-rimDocumented risk

  Haemoglobin falls sharply in the immune haemolysis described.

• Pulse Flours (Lentil, Pea & Fava)Documented risk

  In G6PD deficiency, fava beans can cause hemolytic anemia (falling hemoglobin); fava flour comes from the same bean.

• Eating Clay (Geophagy)Documented risk

  Hemoglobin was lower in soil-eating pregnant women in each trimester.

• ZincDocumented risk

  High zinc doses reduce copper absorption, which can lead to anaemia, shown by low hemoglobin.

• Orange cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris)Preliminary or mixed

  Haemoglobin change was greater than with placebo in the same small runner trial.

• MayappleDocumented risk

  Anaemia is reported after poisoning (IPCS).

• Saptaparna (devil's tree)Lab or animal research only

  Lower hemoglobin and red cell counts were seen in high-dose female rats given bark extract; the authors raised possible anaemia.

• Kaolin Clay (White Clay)Documented risk

  Case report where anemia (low hemoglobin) followed clay eating and resolved when it stopped.

• Prenatal and Postnatal VitaminsDeficiency link

  Low iron can cause anemia; the NHS pregnancy page links iron checks to tiredness and anemia. Cochrane found no difference in third-trimester anemia between multi-nutrient and iron-folic acid products.

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