Hematogen - benefits and harms, latest research, does it increase hemoglobin or not?

How and from what is hematogen made?

The main composition of the treat may surprise you at first. The product is produced primarily from the blood of cattle. Other components are added to it in small quantities. Of course, the blood used is not liquid, but pre-processed - dried and converted into black food albumin.

The classic production technology is as follows:

To create the product, high-quality condensed milk, molasses and sugar syrup are used;
the components are mixed and heated to a high temperature of 125 degrees;
then the mass is cooled to 60 degrees and at this stage dried blood is added to it - black albumin or hemoglobin.

In addition to the listed ingredients, hematogen may contain honey, ascorbic acid and other substances. They increase the benefits and improve the taste of the product. Children's hematogen especially often contains them. The delicacy always resembles chocolate in appearance, and the consistency and taste resembles toffee.

Compound

The preparation contains substances that have properties of a wide therapeutic spectrum. They are necessary for healthy hematopoiesis and well-being:

Proteins and amino acids that partially cover the daily requirement.
Minerals: a lot of iron, as well as calcium, chlorine, potassium, sodium.
Fats are represented by fat-soluble vitamins and animal fats.
Vitamins: ascorbic acid and vitamin A.
Carbohydrates: glucose and sucrose, as well as maltose, dextrin.

Excipients in the composition of hematogen are needed to improve taste and increase nutritional value. This could be nuts, condensed milk, cereals, sugar, etc.

The exact set of ingredients in a bar depends on what changes a particular manufacturer has made to the basic recipe. For example, nuts and berries expand the vitamin and mineral profile of the product.

As for calorie content, on average one hundred gram slab of hematogen contains about 355 kcal.

Hematogen: chemical composition and calorie content

Nutritional value is at an average level - 100 g of product contains 354 calories. It is of particular value in terms of carbohydrates - 75.7 g. Hematogen also contains proteins in the amount of 6 g and very little fat - 3 g.

In terms of chemical composition, iron-containing protein holds the undisputed leadership. But other elements also provide beneficial properties, namely:

minerals calcium, potassium and sodium, chlorine;
vitamins A and C, B12;
amino acids;
sucrose and maltose;
glucose and dextrin.

Important! The exact composition and benefits depend on the form of release. For example, different bars may contain cereals and nuts, pieces of fruit, which further enhance the beneficial properties of the treat.

Types of hematogen

The following types of hematogen are produced:

Standard hematogen. Does not have any additives. Available in 30 and 50 g bars. Can be used by both children and adults.
New hematogen. The composition is practically no different from standard hematogen. Contains an additive in the form of hazelnuts. Available in packs of 6 and 10 plates.
Honey hematogen. Contains honey additive. It is recommended for use by patients with infectious and viral diseases, anemia. Standard form. Available in tiles of 30 g (6 cubes) and 50 g (10 cubes).
Hematogen C. It has an additional additive - vitamin C. It is produced in a standard form, in the same sizes as regular hematogen.

Indications for use: what is hematogen used for?

Pharmacy delicacy belongs to the category not of drugs, but of dietary supplements. In other words, the dietary supplement is available without a prescription, and you can buy it freely to eat for prevention. But in some conditions it will be of particular benefit:

with anemia and exhaustion, severe iron deficiency;
for physical and psycho-emotional stress;
when constantly in poor environmental conditions;
after severe blood loss;
for diseases with bleeding - for example, for acute gastric ulcer;
with a lack of vitamins A and C in the body;
with weakened immunity.

Does Hematogen increase hemoglobin or not? Yes - in all of the above situations, the benefit lies precisely in the hematopoietic properties. Even doctors prescribe this dietary supplement along with pharmacological agents - its beneficial properties help defeat the disease faster.

Benefits for women and men

The benefits of the blood-forming delicacy for women are simply enormous, since once a month completely natural and healthy, but unpleasant bleeding occurs in the female body. Albumin, which enters the body during menstruation, prevents the occurrence of iron deficiency from blood loss, and it becomes easier to endure menstruation.

Recommendations for use

There are several types of hematogen, which contain different amounts of vitamins and microelements. That is why it is necessary to consult a doctor about how to take this drug.

General indications for use:

iron deficiency in the body;
unbalanced diet;
with frequent bleeding;
with anemia;
to increase hemoglobin;
for chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
after complex infectious diseases;
with frequent feelings of fatigue and weakness of the body.

In addition, hematogen should be used if the child has a slight developmental delay. As part of complex therapy, the drug can be prescribed for the treatment of various diseases that impair vision.

Hematogen looks like chocolate

Instructions for use

Hematogen does not have particularly strict requirements for use. Still, several conditions must be adhered to.

Hematogen is consumed between meals - approximately 1.5 hours after meals.
Dietary supplements do not combine well with antibiotics. If you must take both, you should definitely separate the hematogen and antibiotics at 2-hour intervals.
The product is not recommended to be combined with multivitamins.
The iron included in hematogen is poorly absorbed on low-salt diets.
It is better not to take the treat simultaneously with natural sources of protein - meat and fish, dairy products.

Is it possible to use Hematogen while breastfeeding?

The decision about whether hematogen can be used during breastfeeding is usually made by the nursing mother after consultation with the pediatrician observing the child. In most cases, if the woman does not have an allergic reaction to the components of the drug, use is permitted.

Hematogen should be introduced into the diet after the baby reaches 5-6 months of age and very carefully, starting with one slice and monitoring the baby’s reaction. When the inclusion of a new product in the mother’s menu goes unnoticed, you can gradually increase the daily norm, bringing it to 3-4 slices.

Sometimes consumption of hematogen by a nursing woman can lead to the development of diathesis in a child, then it is worth completely eliminating dietary supplements from the diet. The mother's consumption of the drug changes the taste of breast milk, and this can lead to breast abandonment. We do not forget that hematogen brings both benefits and harm, so during breastfeeding it is advisable to dose it.

In a happy case, when the baby likes the taste of breast milk after consuming hematogen, and the mother is not allergic to the drug, you can be sure that their body receives iron in the required amount.

How to choose

Hematogen in pharmacies is presented with products from different manufacturers - and not all tiles contain the same benefits. Some brands produce regular sweets with low albumin content. There will be no harm from such a product, but the beneficial properties will also be less.

To choose the hematogen correctly, you need to read the composition - black food albumin should occupy at least 4 - 5% of the total mass of the treat.

Dosage of the drug

How often you can eat and in what doses it is advisable to use hematogen will be determined exclusively by the attending physician, having studied the results of all examinations and tests.

Important! You do not need to prescribe the drug yourself. In some cases, hematogen can cause harm to the body.

Instructions for use for children

At what age can hematogen be given to children? Experts recommend starting to give the drug to children from 3 years old, and then not in large quantities. Hematogen can be given for preventive purposes, but eating it all the time is strictly prohibited! Children can take the drug daily for 2-3 weeks, and then you need to take a short break so as not to harm the baby’s health.

Hematogen for children should be taken according to the instructions:

Children 3-5 years old no more than 5 g 3 times. in a day.
Children 6-12 years old: 10 g 3 times. in a day.

Important! The drug is available in pharmacies without a prescription. But hematogen should be given only after consultation with a pediatrician. It is not useful for all children. In addition, this drug may cause side effects. Therefore, you should not abuse hematogen!

Instructions for use for adults

For both men and women, the permissible daily intake should not exceed 15 g of hematogen. It is not recommended to take other vitamins at the same time without a doctor’s permission. It is not advisable to eat the drug for 30 minutes. before/after meals. It is also not advisable for men and women to take Hematogen continuously. It is recommended to use the drug for 3-4 weeks, then you will need to take a short break.

Harm and contraindications

The benefits of the product may turn out to be unexpected if you use hematogen for certain diseases. Treats are prohibited:

for diabetes mellitus - due to the high carbohydrate content in the composition;
in case of obesity - due to impaired carbohydrate metabolism;
if you are prone to the formation of blood clots and varicose veins, the product will further thicken the already viscous blood;
with anemia not associated with a lack of iron - in this case, the main valuable element, hemoglobin, will be harmful, since there will be too much of it in the body.

Hematogen should be introduced into the diet of nursing mothers only if the child does not show hostility to the unusual taste of milk.

This dietary supplement should not be abused. Even a healthy person may experience diarrhea and vomiting if the dosage is exceeded.

The benefits of hematogen

Due to the presence of black food albumin, the sweet bar is a good source of iron and amino acids. In addition to participating in the process of hematopoiesis and oxygen transfer, iron has the following beneficial properties:

protects the body from bacteria and viruses (strengthens the immune system);
participates in the synthesis of thyroid hormones;
helps absorb B vitamins;
destroys oxidation products, slowing down the aging process;
improves the functioning of the nervous system.

Hematogen also contains vitamin A, which is good for vision, necessary for normal muscle growth and stimulates the immune system.

For women

Women experience iron deficiency more often than men. This is due to blood loss during menstruation, childbirth, and hormonal imbalances in the body.

The benefit of Hematogen for women is that the black bar prevents iron deficiency. Vitamin A in the product has antioxidant properties, that is, it slows down the aging process and strengthens hair and nails.

For men

The benefit of Hematogen for men is that the high-calorie bar, rich in amino acids, increases endurance, energy, and physical strength. Students, bachelors and businessmen who do not have time to prepare nutritious meals often face iron deficiency. They can include hematogen in their diet to feel better.

For children

Iron and vitamin A are especially needed by a growing body. Some doctors claim that in moderate quantities, hematogen strengthens the child’s immunity, improves his thinking abilities, which helps cope with stress at school and improve academic performance.

Reviews

Alyabyeva Ekaterina Dmitrievna, 31 years old, Moscow

Hematogen became a real salvation for me during pregnancy. In the second trimester, I suffered greatly from iron deficiency and constantly felt drowsy and weak. It’s good that my mother reminded me in time about such a simple and cheap product as hematogen. I started taking one package a day and instantly felt the beneficial properties, and tests quickly showed that iron had returned to normal.

Sergeev Ivan Anatolyevich, 23 years old, Saratov

I have been using Hematogen in courses of 1-2 months with short breaks for several years now - since I entered college. The workload is heavy, there is never enough time, the food also leaves much to be desired - I am a student and cannot afford expensive products. Hematogen helps maintain strength and performance, and it’s very nice that all this benefit costs a penny.

Talasova Anastasia Igorevna, 35 years old, Ryazan

I consider Hematogen one of the most useful dietary supplements; I remember well how it helped me both during my studies and during pregnancy. A very inexpensive delicacy, but at the same time tasty, and the beneficial properties are simply enormous. Now I’m buying hematogen for my child - my son has started first grade, and it’s difficult to get used to the new loads. Now I can be sure that my son will not develop anemia, and his body will develop correctly.

How to choose a real hematogen

On pharmacy shelves there are products called Hematogen, but they are not such. To avoid buying a counterfeit, you need to read the composition - food grade black albumin comes first. It contains 4.5 percent of the total weight of the product. Everything else belongs to flavoring additives.

In case of insufficient nutrition or hard work in remote regions of the country, hematogen will help restore strength, performance and lift your spirits. For children, in addition to getting pleasure, hematogen helps the proper development of the body and mental abilities.

When is harm possible? Risks of hematogen

Hematogen should not be used as a simple sweet. And of course, they should not replace normal, nutritious nutrition. Abuse of the drug leads to a gradual accumulation of iron in the blood. Its quantity becomes excessive.

As a result, the body produces free radicals. They destroy cell walls. This leads to their death.

Excess iron provokes the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of blood vessels. This contributes to the occurrence of atherosclerosis.

Like all dietary supplements, hematogen, if consumed excessively, can cause diarrhea and nausea. After all, it contains a large amount of carbohydrates.

Pay careful attention to the contraindications for using the drug:

Allergy to the components of hematogen. A reaction that indicates hypersensitivity to them may be a red rash and itching. If hypersensitivity occurs, Quincke's edema may occur.
Diabetes. The carbohydrates that make up hematogen are easily absorbed by the body. They increase the level of sugar in the blood test.
Obesity or being overweight.
Anemia that is not due to iron deficiency. Remember - excess iron leads to intoxication of the entire body.
If there are metabolic disorders.
Phlebeurysm.
Thrombophlebitis or inflammation of the veins. Hematogen slightly thickens the blood when the level of hemoglobin in it increases.
Children under three years of age.

Benefits and harms for children

According to most pediatricians, Hematogen is a useful addition to nutrition, because this drug provides the growing body with vitamins, iron and amino acids.

In addition, Hematogen:

Helps with exhaustion of the body.
Strengthens the immune system.
Normalizes the level of hemoglobin and iron in the blood.
Helps in the fight against childhood anemia.
Promotes normal development of the child's body.
Develops visual functions.
Helps with heavy physical activity.

To obtain the desired effect, a child (over 5 years old) must consume 20-40 grams of Hematogen daily. In this case, the course of treatment should be 21 days.

The main danger when taking Hematogen is an overdose, because such a bar is difficult to digest. Consequently, the child can expect side effects such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and other symptoms (previous chapter).

Therefore, when purchasing Hematogen, parents must follow a number of rules, namely:

The bar should be consumed between meals or before meals, with plenty of warm water or juice.
Hematogen should not be used together with other drugs and vitamins that contain calcium.
Do not combine the bar with dairy products, apples, spinach or pomegranate.
It is worth buying children's Hematogen for a child.
The maximum duration of taking the drug is 21 days.

What does Komarovsky think about the consumption of Hematogen? For more details, watch the following video:

Is it possible for pregnant women to eat

Very often, a pregnant woman, receiving a transcript of a blood test, hears from a doctor a comment about underestimating the level of hemoglobin in the blood. The first thought that arises is the question: is it possible for pregnant women to eat hematogen as a preventive measure and to raise hemoglobin levels? After all, this is a simple chocolate bar, widely sold in the pharmacy chain.

The answer to this question lies on the supplement packaging. Contraindication: pregnancy. Even if a blood test shows a decrease in protein levels, hematogen is contraindicated for pregnant women with low hemoglobin. This is primarily due to the high sensitivity of pregnant women to various factors acting on the body.

In a normal state, a woman perceives many components of food well and does not develop allergies, but with the onset of pregnancy and the accompanying changes in hormonal levels, and with it many other indicators, allergies may occur.

Moreover, a small amount can cause quite strong manifestations of it. Thus, a large amount of carbohydrates contained in hematogen, quickly absorbed into the blood, can seriously affect the balance of glucose in the blood and harm the unborn child.

The main component of the supplement itself can cause fermentation processes in the intestines and, as a result, severe discomfort, which can affect the general condition of the body.

Is hematogen harmful?

The question is how harmful is hematogen? Does it cause allergies? Simple enough to answer. The harmfulness of hematogen, as well as its allergenicity, is no more or less than that of any biological additive. As you know, any substance that enters the body can become an allergen.

Since hematogen is a processed blood protein and at the same time foreign, it can cause allergies. But here one rule comes into force: the strength of the allergic reaction directly depends on the amount of allergen received. That is, an allergy to hematogen can only occur in those people who are sensitive to a foreign protein. If you tolerate this substance normally, then there is nothing to be afraid of, except in cases of overdose. But to prevent such a situation, manufacturers write a daily dose for children and adults. So the recommended dosage for children is 20–40g per day, and for adults 50g.

Harm

You should not uncontrollably take any dietary supplements, including hematogen - the benefits and harms of its use can be closely intertwined. Here are some harmful factors:

additives and albumin are allergenic and cause serious consequences;
easily digestible carbohydrates cause harm in the form of obesity and diabetes;
overdose threatens nausea, diarrhea;
helps reduce the digestibility of saturated fats;
negatively affects the thyroid gland of diabetics.

Manufacturing companies

In 1999, technologists from the vitamin plant in Ufa, together with scientists from the Military Medical Academy of St. Petersburg, based on new developments, created and patented a new vitamin complex for children called “Ferrohematogen”.

It contains additional components that increase the body's defenses and promote the absorption and transfer of iron in the blood, such as folic and ascorbic acid, copper, vitamins C and B12.

But manufacturers have abandoned various types of fillers that affect the taste, but reduce the concentration of beneficial elements, interfere with the absorption of iron and can cause allergic reactions. Improving taste is achieved not by additives, but by innovative technologies.

The following Russian companies producing hematogen have proven themselves well:

“Revival and Development” produces a healthy treat with a classic composition in the form of chewable lozenges and bars; interesting flavor additives include rosehip extract, chicory, and hazelnut.
“Pharm PRO”, whose main brand is hematogen “Russian”, you can add special products to it - “Turbohematogen”, specially created for children from three years old, and supplemented with β-carotene and iron sulfate, the “C-Vita Plus” bar.
"Geness" specializes in the drug of its own development, "Hematogen S-Vita".
“Siberian Health” produces iodized and fortified bars with various additives “Narodny” and “Narodny Children’s”.
"Ekzon" produces dietary supplements such as "Hematovit" and "Hematovit iron plus".
Pharmstandard specializes in the production of chewable lozenges, including Ferrohematogen.

Hematogen benefits and harms. Composition of hematogen, hematogen for pregnant women and children

Calories in the drug

Having studied the composition of hematogen, you now know that such a significant nutritional value is due to a huge number of different sugars.

The calorie content of the drug reaches approximately 350 kcal per hundred grams of product. Exactly how many calories are in a Hematogen bar will depend on the amount of carbohydrates present. After all, there are a variety of flavoring additives used by different manufacturers. It can be: nougat, chocolate, honey, nuts, dried apricots, raisins.

Nowadays, many people are trying to monitor their weight. But you shouldn’t think that a healthy product will necessarily contain a small amount of calories.

Their quantity is indicated on the hematogen packaging. Even without a variety of tasty additives, it is very high in calories. You should not use it as a vitamin preparation while on a weight loss diet.

How does the drug work?

The main protein that makes up blood in the human body is albumin. It is responsible for supplying cells with vitamins and microelements; neutralizes toxic substances; provides a supply of protein in case of shortage; maintains the elasticity of blood cells.

In pharmacological production, special technologies are used that preserve all these healing qualities. Therefore, the composition of hematogen contains active animal hemoglobin. This natural protein is associated in the human body with the trace element iron. If there is not enough of it, the person gets sick.

The drug helps iron ions penetrate through the walls of the intestinal tract. Therefore, the level of red blood cells, which carry nutrients and oxygen throughout the body, increases.

How is hematogen useful?

Not only specialists, but also ordinary people know how hematogen is useful for adults and children. The product was developed as a drug that would increase the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. Due to the presence of a large number of beneficial properties of hematogen, it is possible to improve human health. With regular use of the drug, vision improvement is observed. It has a positive effect on metabolism. When using the medicine, the mucous membranes are strengthened.

Hematogen, blood-based drugs: banned or not?

Answered by Archpriest Maxim Obukhov, head of the Orthodox medical and educational center Life.

There is a lot of controversy around hematogen: can it be used by Orthodox believers, does it really help with anemia. Father Maxim, please help me figure this out. What is hematogen?

- This is something vague, there is no generally accepted understanding of what hematogen is - it’s just a commercial name for a sweet product of uncertain composition made using blood. A long time ago, more than a hundred years ago, medicine tried to find a cure for anemia. The task of the pharmacists who prepared it was to create a form from blood that would not be subject to decomposition and could be stored for a long time. This is how dried blood is proposed using sugar as a preservative. Then the idea migrated to the Soviet Union, where GOST was drawn up, the standards by which the product was to be prepared, which included condensed milk, a little blood and sugar. Such a “recipe” existed under GOST standards, but nowadays they can produce anything under the name “hematogen”. You can prepare a sweet sticky slab and call it hematogen. Maybe some of the manufacturers, most likely a minority, produce this product in accordance with GOST, but today it is expensive.

How to treat it correctly - a vitamin, a medicine, a food supplement?

— Hematogen is not a medicine because there are no relevant documents for it. This is a dietary supplement - a dietary supplement, but not a medicine, and therefore you can add anything to it: raisins, nuts, coconut flakes. For example, with an antibiotic or other medicine, such “liberty” will not work.

Hematogen is just food, and if tomorrow it disappears from sale, nothing will happen. But since this product is bought, it will be produced and sold. In supermarkets it is sold with various fillers, but you can no longer buy iron supplements in a regular store. This is a medicinal product, it is subject to other requirements, it is accompanied by a description, side effects, dosage regimen, it has undergone various studies.

And we all know, especially from our childhood experience: sometimes we went to the pharmacy for all sorts of goodies - for oatmeal bars, for ascorbic acid, produced in large tablets and packaged in a colored candy wrapper, with a huge amount of sugar, and all this was sold without a prescription. Everyone knew that children buy this as a delicacy and it is not surprising: pharmacy delicacies are much cheaper than regular chocolate, for example, the same hematogen cost 16 kopecks, and a chocolate bar cost 80 kopecks.

That is, treating anemia with hematogen is the wrong way?

“You can’t compare medicine and food.” Of course, medicines and foods can somehow be related to each other, for example, and food can sometimes be medicine in the sense that doctors prescribe certain foods to improve health. So, hematogen is precisely food to a greater extent; the same criteria that apply to drugs do not apply to it. Maybe someone will someday do a clinical trial to evaluate blood products as a treatment for anemia. The share of iron in human blood is small, and when treating anemia, the daily dose is 0.05-0.1 grams, and it turns out that to consume this dose you need to eat these bars (hematogen) in huge quantities. If it is fortified with iron, clinical trials are still needed to turn it into a drug.

It is worth noting that there is a legal difference between food and medicine. The status of the first and second is very different. For example, the mint that we buy at the pharmacy or mint from the store seem to be the same plant, but they have different legal status, different quality, selection criteria, and different paths to the counter. Hematogen, although not a medicine, can be on the counter of any store.

In addition, if you read advice, information on the Internet, even on a wonderful website, you still cannot take them as a guide to action, and this applies not only to anemia. In general, if you treat yourself based on materials in magazines, because you can do yourself more harm than good.

If you don't take the spiritual side, is there any benefit?

— As for the effectiveness of hematogen as a remedy for anemia, the issue is controversial.

Now there are different methods and views on the treatment of anemia. Treating anemia by introducing food is a false concept, and doctors know it. Food only complements treatment: without addressing the cause of the disease, you cannot get rid of the disease itself. Of course, the doctor will prescribe a diet and iron supplements, but will also refer you for examination. It is necessary! Low levels of hemoglobin and iron in the blood are not an independent disease, but a signal of health. This is not a diagnosis, but a reason to undergo a serious examination. There are many types of anemia, and they can have many causes. For example, suppose a woman has heavy monthly bleeding, of course the doctor will advise her on medications to replace this loss. But here it is important to understand: remedies that restore blood loss will not eliminate the cause of bleeding! We need to figure out why this is happening: maybe a fibroid, maybe a hormonal or blood clotting disorder. It is necessary to eliminate the cause, not treat the effect. A person with anemia may have an ulcer or stomach cancer, he urgently needs surgery, blood cancer, gynecological problems, even a small wound in the mouth that slowly but stubbornly bleeds. As for diet, any doctor will advise, in addition to looking for the causes of anemia, proper nutrition. What will it consist of? The first is to get enough protein and iron, as well as iron supplements. But when taking the latter, it is necessary to take into account that they all have side effects. I would especially like to note that people with anemia need to be careful with fasting. So hematogen should rather be perceived as a food product, in some cases recommended for anemia.

Are the calories harmful?

— If the manufacturer honestly writes on the label about the sugar content, then the responsibility lies with the buyer. You never know what they sell? The same sugar is displayed in kilograms on the shelves in stores. No one blames the factories that produce sugar for the fact that some customers abuse sweets, which are not at all healthy.

But, on the other hand, there are situations when the body needs sugar. For example, a person goes skiing for eight hours, it is uncomfortable and difficult for him to carry “normal” food in his backpack, so he takes out something sweet: chocolate, hematogen. And he burned the calories received from the delicacy on skis. There will be no harm, not even any benefit. That is, everything is relative, and we must figure out for ourselves how to eat and regulate our diet.

In addition to hematogen, there are blood-based medications. How should an Orthodox believer approach such means?

— We are talking about blood-based drugs, but what about blood transfusions? This is more serious than using blood in food or medicine. However, officially the Church not only approves of blood transfusions, but also condemns those religious practices that are against it, I mean Jehovah's Witnesses. Also, modern decisions of the Holy Synod and councils do not contain a ban on the use of blood as medicine, but perhaps this issue will be discussed someday. That is, if we considered blood medicines a sin, then there would have been corresponding decisions of the Holy Synod long ago. This question is closed by default.

There are drugs that are prepared on the basis of human blood, but more - from the blood of cattle - it is much cheaper. The “extra” remains during the slaughter of animals, so it is used. In addition to the spiritual issue, there is a medical issue, the issue of effectiveness. Some of the blood products are placebos and dummies, and some are even dangerous. For example, solcoseryl, when taking it there are various risks, serious allergic reactions. Of course, there are various dangers with blood transfusions. But when a patient is in intensive care and may die, and there is a chance to save him with a blood transfusion, doctors take risks. When using blood products, there is a risk of contracting the rare but very dangerous disease “mad cow disease”. In general, there are a lot of blood-based medicines and sometimes they are indispensable.

If we talk about blood products for the treatment of anemia, then they are just replaceable. What is hemoglobin? This is primarily a protein; it also contains a certain amount of iron in a ratio of 1:1000 by weight of the protein molecule. Therefore, if a doctor sets the task of restoring hemoglobin, then the patient needs a complete protein diet with an iron supplement. The source of protein can be any food of animal origin, not necessarily blood. And any meat, in fact, always, whether you want it or not, contains blood.

How do you comment on the refusal of some believers to use blood medicine? At the same time, they refer to the Old Testament...

— You need to understand the history of the blood ban, what it is connected with. When the ban on eating blood was formed in Judaism, almost nothing was known about the nature of blood.

In the minds of ancient people, blood was a symbol, a carrier of life and soul. What did they know about blood? With a great loss, a person or animal dies: the blood is out, the life is gone. It was only in the 17th century that the blood circulation was discovered (by the English physician William Harvey), and before that Claudius Galen proved that the heart is a motor or pump that forces blood to circulate, and not an ordinary muscle, as was previously thought. Blood, as it turned out, is simply a liquid internal environment of the body, primarily performing a transport function.

The Bible records many natural scientific views that relate to the knowledge of ancient people, how people saw the world during the Old Testament. It is clear that it does not contain what was discovered later. This is normal and there is nothing tempting about it. For example, the Bible says: the sun has risen. And we say this: it has set and risen, although everyone now knows that the Earth revolves around the Sun, and not vice versa. And ancient people “saw” that the Sun was moving around our planet.

In the Old Testament there are certain important hygienic instructions corresponding to the level of knowledge of that time, for example, that you need to bury feces with a shovel. There are rules for slaughtering livestock to prevent the consumption of meat from an animal that has died naturally. Draining the blood after slaughter proved that it was not strangled, that the cattle died from a knife. It is clear that eating strangled meat, especially in hot climates, is deadly. Blood flow is, as it were, the most important diagnostic sign, which confirms that this is a slaughtered and not a dead animal. The Jewish tradition of a strict, uncompromising prohibition of blood continued in the ancient Church. In modern times, when blood products, including blood transfusions, have become commonplace, the attitude towards them has been revised both among Christian denominations and in modern Judaism, especially when it comes to saving lives.

The use of blood, sprinkling with blood for ritual purposes is a completely different matter, which, of course, is incompatible with Christianity. Some tribes have the dubious and rather barbaric practice of drinking fresh, living blood during slaughter. This is hardly compatible with Christianity. At the same time, Christianity in general is not characterized by excessive attention to diet and religious prohibitions on food, so for us there is no distinction at all between “clean” and “unclean” food.

But now, besides medicines, what people are most interested in is blood sausage (there are regions where it is very popular) and hematogen. In fact, both blood sausage and hematogen are food made from blood. Moreover, blood sausage contains much more blood than hematogen. There are people who believe that using blood in any form for food is unacceptable. There are those who believe that we do not inherit the Old Testament norms and Jewish traditions completely and literally. Probably, both now and in the future, both approaches will coexist, and the discussion around blood sausage will continue. As for my personal opinion, I agree that blood-based medications necessary to save and preserve life are acceptable for use. At the same time, placebo pacifiers (of any composition, not just blood) should have no place in the pharmacy. Hematogen can be considered a remedy with an unproven effect and its use is never vital.

Text: Alexandra Gripas

Contraindications

Each drug has its own uses and contraindications. If you overeat hematogen, the harm may result in negative consequences.

It is forbidden to consume the supplement if you have the following problems:

Diabetes mellitus.
Obesity.
Gastritis.
Individual intolerance to components.
Increased iron levels.
Varicose veins.
Thrombophlebitis.
Children up to 3 years of age.

When purchasing hematogen, you need to look at the expiration date and composition. It is better to buy a bar without sugar and additional impurities.

Some people may have allergic reactions to additional ingredients.

If children eat a component daily that exceeds the optimal norm, an overdose may occur.

It is accompanied by side effects and symptoms:

Nausea, vomiting.
Diarrhea, digestive disorders.
Frequent urination.
Weakness, lethargy.

The optimal daily dose for a child is 20 grams of hematogen; for an adult, 35 grams is enough. The duration of the course should not exceed 3 weeks. After which a break of a month is necessary.

How is decline determined?

A change in the normal amount of hemoglobin in the blood occurs due to a lack or excess of iron. The decrease may be due to an insufficient amount of iron and protein substances capable of maintaining normal hemoglobin, or to a low number of red blood cells in the bloodstream. To determine the reduced value, you need to know the normal hemoglobin levels, depending on age, gender and individual characteristics of the body. The digital value is determined in grams contained in 1 liter of blood.

Bovine blood in Hematogen

When asked how Hematogen is made, many claim that the composition contains bovine blood. The traditional recipe of the last century assumed the presence of this component (dried, filtered), but since 2001 this component (pure) has not been included in the dietary supplement, albumin is used instead. The process of iron saturation occurs due to the hemoglobin concentrate. Hematogen with bovine blood has not been produced for several decades, but its constituent components can contain it in purified and evaporated powder form.

What is Hematogen?

With reduced hemoglobin, a person becomes weak and tired. Most citizens strive to normalize hemoglobin levels with the help of a sweet bar called Hematogen, which is a drug with a high iron content.

This drug (translated from Greek means “giving birth to blood”) looks like a chocolate bar and has a pleasant, specific taste. The main function of Hematogen is to stimulate hematopoiesis. The main disease for which the use of Hematogen is recommended is iron deficiency anemia.

The calorie content of Hematogen is 340 kcal per 100 grams of product (with the addition of nuts and dried fruits - 500 kcal).

The basic component of Hematogen is dried blood of livestock (albumin). To improve the taste, honey, condensed milk, sugar and other flavor enhancers can be added to the composition.

Information! Would you like to learn more about the composition of Hematogen? Then read our article at the link https://ankrovi.ru/gemoglobin/gematogen-iz-chego-proizvodyat.html.

Every day, children can consume no more than 20-40 grams of Hematogen (adults - 50 grams). The course of taking this product is 2-3 weeks.

Advantages of using Hematogen

Hematogen is a preventive and general strengthening agent for the body. In more detail, Hematogen has the following positive properties:

Increases hemoglobin levels.
It is a complete source of amino acids.
Improves the condition of hair, nails, skin.
Has a beneficial effect on visual function.
Helps restore the body in the postoperative period.
Normalizes the weight of a child (over 5 years old).
Able to restore iron levels after the menstrual cycle.
Helps in the presence of diseases such as: stomach ulcers; anemia; traumatic bone damage.
Normalizes the supply of oxygen to cells.
Improves the condition of the respiratory tract.
Helps with general exhaustion of the body.
Increases the level of red blood cells in the blood.
Increases performance.
Strengthens the immune system.
Improves metabolism.

From the history of the creation of hematogen

In the 19th century, through the efforts of the outstanding physician Sergei Botkin, the connection between blood composition and human health was identified. Of course, assumptions that blood carries some kind of “vital force” were made earlier, but only in the middle of the century before last it was proven that blood loss and a decrease in the level of iron in the blood lead to weakness, loss of strength and disruption of many important functions.

An active search began for a remedy that would help improve blood quality and increase the amount of hemoglobin - a protein that, with the help of iron, transports oxygen to organs. In 1890, the first hematogen was developed in Switzerland - an iron-rich mixture based on bovine blood. Its effectiveness was so high that the product immediately became widespread. After the revolution, hematogen began to be produced in Russia. During World War II, hematogen became a vital drug; it was actively used in military hospitals for the rehabilitation of the wounded who had lost a lot of blood.

After the war in the USSR, it was decided to “rebrand” Hematogen, adapting it to the needs of the post-war period. In those years, food was often poor, monotonous and insufficient, and childhood anemia became common. This is how the familiar solid hematogen appeared - a sweet slab similar to iris. Both children and adults liked it, it could replace sweets for tea, it was cheap, easily divided into portions and did not look like medicine. The best minds of medicine of that time worked on the development of the recipe. Since the 1970s, hematogen began to be produced at the Ufa Vitamin Plant, and the technology has been improved and improved many times.

The last major change occurred in 1999, when technologists from the Ufa Vitamin Plant and scientists from the St. Petersburg Military Medical Academy named after S. M. Kirov joined forces to create a much more effective product. Vitamins were added to the hematogen composition, which increase the absorption of iron and have a general strengthening effect. Later, European technologists were also involved in the work, who helped make the product tastier and softer. The new product, Ferrohematogen-Pharmstandard, is superior in effectiveness to earlier analogues, and it also tastes much better.

Currently, the Ufa Vitamin Plant is part of the Pharmstandard group and specializes in the creation and production of modern, highly effective vitamin complexes, and Ferrohematogen remains one of the company’s most popular products.

Important! The popularity of hematogen has led to the emergence of a huge number of analogues, but many of them copy only the taste of this product, without possessing its beneficial properties. Since, by law, sweets that do not contain albumin cannot be called hematogen, their manufacturers get out of the situation by changing the name to something consonant - “Hemagen”, “Hematogeshka”, etc. These sweet bars may be enriched with vitamins, but they are not a hematogen.

Treat or medicine

Upon careful consideration of this dilemma, no one can give a direct answer. Hematogen has a powerful hematopoietic effect, it contains a large amount of iron and is considered an excellent prophylactic agent. Thus, treating any diseases with hematogen will not lead to the desired result, and vice versa, consuming it instead of sweets will lead to quite serious negative consequences.

How can you find out whether hematogen is a treat or a medicine and what are the norms for taking it? A couple of squares of hematogen tiles will not harm the body, which cannot be said when eating two or three tiles daily when trying to combat iron deficiency.

Photo of a real hematogen

Latest research on the properties of hematogen

The modern world today is actively trying to find out the true effect of hematogen on the human body. Recent studies on it show that there are also negative aspects to the regular use of the drug. It must be taken into account that hematogen has a lot of harmful and dangerous additives - sugar, condensed milk, honey, which can significantly increase the overall level of glucose in the blood (which is especially dangerous in diabetes) and cause severe allergic reactions. In addition, it is only suitable for the prevention of anemia, but it is not capable of curing it.

It is believed that albumin, which is part of the hematogen slab, contains iron and it is natural that it will increase hemoglobin. Iron is the only macronutrient that can bind to hemoglobin. And depending on the amount of iron entering the blood, the hemoglobin level will change.

But the catch is that no studies have been conducted on changes in hemoglobin levels after consuming Haematogenum. It is not entirely clear how high the degree of purification of albumin is and what kind of iron is included in its composition. Divalent iron salts are useful for the human body. At the same time, the ratio of its amount found in one tile to the amount that is absorbed is significantly different. Proper nutrition is necessary for better absorption

For example, it is important to consume red fruits and vegetables, dark juices, which improve the absorption of iron in the small intestine

All these nuances have not been fully studied. Therefore, there is no precise evidence that hematogen increases hemoglobin levels. But still, it is registered in many countries as a means for the prevention of iron deficiency conditions.

Consumption standards

Since hematogen is a sweet and tasty dietary supplement, its use is common among children. Because of this, parents often wonder how much they can eat. In fact, it is difficult to judge, since the norm is purely individual for everyone and depends on weight, tolerance, and needs. We should not forget about sucrose, which is part of the dietary supplement, that is, it is not recommended to use the product for people with impaired glucose tolerance or hereditary enzymopathies. On average, it is believed that the daily intake for adults is 50 g, for children – 30 g.

Hematogen should not be taken together with other vitamins, as dyspeptic disorders may occur, for example, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, increased intestinal motility, etc. It is not recommended to take an iron-containing dietary supplement with iron supplements, such as Maltofer, Tardiferon. This may cause high serum iron concentrations, which may result in side effects. One of them may be staining of teeth black, a icteric tint of the skin and mucous membranes, and an enlarged liver.

Another incompatible ingredient for this product is calcium (and products based on it), since it counteracts iron. That is, at high concentrations of calcium in the blood, the digestibility of ferrum is reduced to a minimum.

It is not recommended to combine antibiotics with dietary supplements, especially cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones, as the motility of the digestive system is impaired. The same applies to diuretics, antihypertensives, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Selection rules

Bars with additives taste better, but the opinion of doctors has a downside. A good hematogen should be clean, without unnecessary impurities. Confectionery ingredients can negatively affect the absorption of iron, although the product is purchased specifically for this purpose.

Hematogen is high in calories, and additives make it more filling. To achieve results, you must take the course for 30-60 days. Eating sweet briquettes can affect body weight.

When choosing a product, study its composition.
The main thing is that the list of ingredients is small. Ideally, there will be nothing but:

albumin;
Sahara;
condensed milk;
molasses;
vanillin.

Undesirable ingredients include palm oil, dyes, and flavor additives. There is no benefit from them. Some manufacturers add vitamins, nuts and similar ingredients. It is tasty, but when mixed with albumin, some components lose their effectiveness. Therefore, a bar with a composition that contains a minimum of additives is healthier.

An important indicator is the presence of albumin. For the hematogen to begin to act, the black food product must be up to 5%. Then one such tile will cover almost 40% of the iron in the body. With a smaller dosage in the tile, its quality and benefits can be questioned.

If the hematogen is real, then it should be indicated that the composition contains food-grade black albumin.

The drug containing iron was invented in Switzerland by Adolf Hommel in 1980. Among the ingredients were only ox's blood and egg yolk. Solid tiles were invented later. They began to add ascorbic acid and honey. Currently, bovine blood is not used; its analogues are natural and synthetic hemoglobin.

This video provides recommendations on what to look for when choosing a hematogen:

Composition of Hematogen according to GOST

Classical technology assumed the presence of a vitamin complex. This recipe tradition has survived to this day, because hematogen sold in pharmacies contains only natural ingredients. A substitute for this drug may contain palm oil, which may be harmful to the body and may not have the same properties. The classic composition of Hematogen according to GOST assumes the presence of:

starch syrup;
black albumin, edible;
condensed milk, boiled in accordance with GOST (no more than 20 percent);
sugar, vanillin (no more than 23 percent).

Should Hematogen be given to pregnant women?

Can the drug be used during pregnancy or nursing mothers? This question is far from idle. Many people are interested in him.

Of course, hematogen compensates for iron deficiency. As is known, women with complicated pregnancies often suffer from anemia.

But the source of replenishment of iron in the mother’s body during this period is primarily fish, liver, boiled eggs, greens, meat and various cereals.

We must not forget that hemoglobin thickens the blood. Improper use of hematogen is dangerous due to blood clots. The carbohydrates included in hematogen can contribute to fermentation of the intestinal environment. Possible stool disorder leads to dehydration.

Therefore, you should definitely consult a doctor. He will make recommendations based on the analyzes performed. This will relate specifically to your condition during this period.

Nursing mothers should also not overuse hematogen. After all, it contains animal protein and can become an allergen for infants.

Hematogen for increasing potency: how to use and will there be an effect?

For representatives of the stronger sex, the intimate side of life is very important. Does iron level affect potency? When a man is ready for intimacy with a woman, his pulse and breathing become more frequent. Due to the lack of iron, which is involved in oxygen transport, the brain senses oxygen starvation and sends a signal to the body to redistribute blood. She leaks from the genitals and the man fails.

You cannot do without a visit to a doctor (andrologist), an examination will show the cause of sexual impotence, and if it is a low level of hemoglobin, hematogen for potency will be useful. After a month's course (3 times a day, 15-20 g between meals), it is necessary to do a clinical blood test so that the doctor cancels or suggests further treatment. It will not help against vascular or psychological impotence.