Oxygen is carried throughout the body by blood. The oxygen carrying part of blood is called hemoglobin. Iron is a major component of hemoglobin. Deficiency of iron can result in anemia, a condition where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. It can be caused due to heavy bleeding, some types of cancer, poor diet, and irritable bowel syndrome. Adding iron rich foods like meat, spinach to your diet is not enough to treat anemia, especially anemia caused by heavy bleeding. If you have anemia, your doctor may recommend using iron supplements to treat the condition. Supplements usually contain iron in the form of iron sulfate. Sometimes, iron may be present in complex with gluconate and dextran. Iron is usually present in complex with ascorbic acid to help increase its absorption. If you are using iron supplements, it is advisable to take it along with a glass of orange juice. This will help increase the absorption of this mineral in to the body. Anemia usually resolves within 3 to 6 weeks of starting iron supplements. In most cases, the patient is advised to continue using the supplement for up to 6 months. Pregnant women, women with severe menstrual bleeding, anemic children, and people using medications like aspirin, ibuprofen are usually prescribed iron supplements. Side effects of this supplement include abdominal discomfort and constipation.