After many years of managing my health proactively, even on one occasion in around 2009, using Google to solve a serious health problem that around 15 or more GPs did not, I have learned that taking personal responsibility is critically important.

First, I will provide some background about myself and my approach.

1. I have long and in-depth experience of being interested in truth and wisdom, instead of my opinions, biases and subjective thinking.
2. I'm humble - if we think we know it all, or even something, it can present a block to growing knowledge and wisdom.
3. I am aware of my lack of medical training - one issue this presents is a lack of holistic understanding of how the body and its parts interact.
4. Years of experience across many doctors, both here in Australia, the UK, and the Channel Islands (part of Great Britain but not the UK) have shown me a diverse range of poor experiences. Once, a vigilant pharmacist intervened, preventing harm from a poor doctor's prescription.
5. Since returning to Australia in February 1997, I have only found three General Practitioners/Physicians (GPs) who I see as 'world-class' across a number of metrics. One of these is a friend. Some doctors have been quite good, albeit with my careful oversight. A disturbing number of doctors have either caused harm or would have done had I not intervened. One Australian medical specialist (consultant in the UK) even gave me advice that contradicted the medical research shown to me by a GP, and it was only one example of his incompetence. He was also a nasty piece of work.
6. I rarely ask my GP friend, who lives in Melbourne anyway, which is a long way from my home, for medical advice. I do not 'abuse' the relationship.
7. I have an advantage because I am street-wise and at times receive intuitive and even supernatural knowledge (so often it is 'evidence-based').
8. Sometimes I have done minor to moderate supernatural physical healings with verifiable results (evidence), even combined with knowledge about a symptom I had not been told about. Imagine the effect on the person I was helping. My experience in this physical realm is limited, though - my forte lies in the area of the mind. I am a Christian and ask God for help. I value modern medicine and am grateful for its positive effects and outcomes. Placebo can help people also.
9. Most people are, from a young age, subconsciously conditioned to view doctors extremely favourably. I have 'deprogrammed' myself from this, so I can see them much more clearly.
10. Medical staff in Lichfield murdered my grandmother, who survived the German Nazi bombers during the London Blitz of 1940/41, and later the V1 and V2 rockets, losing half her house in the Blitz one night while she was at home, in 1987. My father received a phone call a few years after her death from a woman who wanted to get something off her chest. She stated granny was murdered with excess medication because 'they needed the beds'. Fancy surviving the might of the World War II Luftwaffe, only to be murdered by people from the National Health Service (NHS). The potential for evil in people's minds...
11. In Australia, the business model of health care is based on limited, and often insufficient time, mainly for a fee. As a business person myself, I understand the issues.
12. A GP is, by definition, a generalist. Studies show that focus and 'deep work' facilitate better quality outcomes. I realise GPs can't help this because of the nature of their work, however, I factor it in and it increases my level of caution.
13. Some doctors like to state that their medical degree is better than 'Dr Google'. Some even have coffee mugs stating this. Sadly, I have frequently found this is not the case, at least in the outworking (results of their 'treatment').
14. I don't have hypochondria, or any tendency to think the worst, because of my extensive mind training, healing and personal development.
15. I excelled at science in school and came top in my year across Biology, Chemistry and Physics. I attended an extremely unpleasant and mentally injurious school for 'clever dicks'. (Rugby School UK). The 'scientifical mindset' comes easily to me. Learning computer programming later (1981) has helped also and changed the way I think about some problems.
16. We are, to most doctors, just a 'number'. You, and perhaps your loved ones, have a deep interest in your wellbeing. It's nice to find a doctor who does; however, they are rare, and they are not you, your family, or close friends. We can't expect too much. Decades ago, I dated a woman who had a Ph.D in biology and was a university lecturer. She told me that when she was training (in the early 80s), she did some subjects in common with medical students and that most medical students were only learning medicine because of money, not because they cared about people.
17. Besides the medical profession, and 'alternative practitioners' who can be extremely dangerous with their supplemental suggestions among other things, we need to be wary of 'influencers' and journalists. Advice from these can be extremely bad and even dangerous. A personal example appears later.
18. Doing one's own research can carry risk - for various reasons. Back in the day when I had just Google, my own psychological qualities and experience, it was harder. I have been using Perplexity AI since last year and have a professional (paid) account. Perplexity has transformed my medical research, doing much of the 'heavy lifting' for me. If you click on the link and purchase Perplexity, I benefit. However, that's not why I have written this article. (Quote: "For every subscriber you refer, you get $10 off your next billing cycle and they get $10 off.") I enjoy helping people, and I have to be careful of overdoing it - many have taken advantage of me in the past. Writing useful articles online means many can benefit instead of just a few.
    

Here is an example of how the use of Perplexity AI can counter poor advice.

Earlier today I read, on a popular online news website, that a doctor said concerning iron supplementation: "too much, around 20mg or higher, can be toxic."

A few or more years ago, a doctor (one of the three world-class ones I mentioned above) diagnosed me with an iron deficiency (I eat meat, being an omnivore - it's natural and normal). She suggested taking an iron pill and told me that the best one for me is Maltofer - partly because there are fewer issues with constipation. Nowadays, my doctors check my iron levels whenever I have blood tests.

I consume Maltofer tablets which contain 100mg of elemental iron per tablet, once every three days. (Below the recommended dose because I aim to be 'conservative,' and blood test results suggest I do not need more. This is a decision I made myself, and the blood tests confirmed it correct.)

Having read the alarming news article (which I have not linked to, so as to minimise potential harms to readers) I did a Perplexity AI search. I did this to check the situation, despite being confident my treatment regime was correct. 'Self audits' can be a good thing.

The results are revealing and confirm that I am on the correct treatment regimen for an iron deficiency.

Here is what I input into a Deep Research box (may not be available on free plan):
"Maltofer tablets contain 100mg of elemental iron per tablet but I have heard that supplementing greater than 20mg of iron can be toxic. Provide detailed information about the issue. Should I stop taking maltofer?"

The result (my article continues below it):

Understanding Maltofer Iron Tablets: Safety, Dosage, and Toxicity Concerns

Maltofer tablets contain 100mg of elemental iron as iron polymaltose, which may raise concerns when you've heard that iron supplements over 20mg can be toxic. This comprehensive analysis will help clarify this apparent contradiction and provide you with evidence-based information about iron supplementation safety.

Iron Toxicity: Understanding the Metrics

The toxicity of iron is primarily measured in milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg), not simply in milligrams. This distinction is crucial for understanding safety thresholds:

• Less than 20mg/kg: Generally asymptomatic^[1][2]
• 20-60mg/kg: May cause gastrointestinal symptoms only^[1:1][2:1]
• 60-120mg/kg: Potential for systemic toxicity^[1:2]
• More than 120mg/kg: Potentially lethal^[1:3][3]

For context, a 70kg adult would need to consume 1,400mg of elemental iron (14 Maltofer tablets) to reach the 20mg/kg threshold where mild symptoms might begin.

Maltofer's Unique Iron Formulation

Maltofer contains iron polymaltose, which differs significantly from other iron supplements:

Controlled Absorption Mechanism

Maltofer's iron polymaltose formulation ensures controlled iron uptake, unlike ferrous iron supplements that can release large amounts of iron at once^[4]. This controlled release mechanism means:

1. The body only absorbs the iron it needs when needed^[4:1]
2. There's less likelihood of gastrointestinal side effects like constipation^[4:2]
3. Lower toxicity risk even at therapeutic doses^[5]

According to the manufacturer's safety data: "No cases of accidental poisoning with fatal outcome have been reported due to the low toxicity of iron polymaltose and controlled uptake of iron. In case of overdose, intoxication or iron accumulation are unlikely with Maltofer."^[5:1]

Daily Iron Requirements vs. Therapeutic Doses

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for iron varies by age and sex:

• Men (19+ years): 8mg daily^[6]
• Women (19-50 years): 18mg daily^[6:1]
• Pregnant women: 27mg daily^[6:2]

However, treating iron deficiency requires higher therapeutic doses than simply maintaining normal levels. The 100mg dose in Maltofer is within the standard range for iron deficiency treatment^[7].

Side Effects vs. Toxicity

There is an important distinction between side effects and toxicity:

Possible Side Effects of Iron Supplements

Even at therapeutic doses, iron supplements can cause:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation^[8]
• Dark stools^[8:1]
• Abdominal discomfort^[8:2]

These side effects are more common with ferrous iron supplements than with iron polymaltose formulations like Maltofer^[4:3].

Should You Stop Taking Maltofer?

This is a decision that should ultimately be made in consultation with your healthcare provider who prescribed the supplement. However, based on the evidence:

1. The 100mg elemental iron in Maltofer is a therapeutic dose designed to treat iron deficiency^[7:1][9]
2. The iron polymaltose in Maltofer has a controlled absorption mechanism that reduces toxicity risks^[5:2][4:4]
3. The 20mg threshold you've heard about likely refers to either:
   • Daily requirements for maintenance (not treatment)^[6:3]
   • Potential minor side effects with regular ferrous iron supplements^[6:4]
   • The mg/kg toxicity scale (where 20mg/kg would be much higher than a single tablet)^[1:4]

Conclusion

The 100mg of elemental iron in Maltofer tablets, while higher than daily maintenance requirements, is a standard therapeutic dose for treating iron deficiency. The iron polymaltose formulation in Maltofer provides important safety advantages through its controlled release mechanism.

Rather than stopping your supplement, consider discussing any concerns with your healthcare provider. They can assess your specific situation, verify whether you need iron supplementation, monitor your iron levels, and adjust dosage if necessary. If you're experiencing side effects, they might recommend taking Maltofer with food, which can help minimize gastrointestinal discomfort while maintaining its effectiveness^[7:2].

PDF of the same search result:

My article continues:

As you can see, the advice given on the news website is appallingly incorrect! Thanks to Perplexity AI I have a clearer picture.

Best wishes for the management of your own health.