The need for vitamins and iron differs from person to person with MDS. MDS patients who have chronic anemia and require frequent blood transfusions often suffer from iron overload. In these cases, taking extra sources of iron by mouth can be harmful so in this case a multivitamin formulated without iron can be taken if you so wish. This may sound strange since most people equate anemia with iron deficiency, but in MDS, it isn’t the iron that’s missing, it’s the red blood cells themselves, so taking iron supplements doesn’t help and may have a negative effect. It is best to consult with your treating hematologist before taking any iron or vitamin supplements.
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