Nita, Has his doctor confirmed that this is iron-deficiency anemia? There are different anemias, not all of which respond to iron. What medications is he using? 1) normocytic anemia -- low hematocrit due to fewer blood cells; sometimes due to decreased bone marrow; doesn't respond to iron supplements. May be due to certain medications (i.e., benzidine, chloramphenicol, antimicrobial drugs, anticonvulsants), even sometimes hair dyes or aspirin 2) megaloblastic anemia / pernicious anemia -- usually results from deficiency of B12 and/or folic acid; also by drugs or other conditions that interfere with B12 or folate metabolism (i.e., methotrexate); also by failure to produce certain stomach acids needed to metabolize B12. 3) microcytic anemia -- usually due to iron deficiency, also blood loss; also from severe protein deficiency; intake of heavy metals such as lead; and deficiencies of vitamin A, E, B6, or copper. 4) hemolytic anemia -- due to increased destruction of red blood cells; may be caused by autoimmune disorders, defects in the membrane of the red blood cell, artificial heart valves, vit. E deficiency. My very best regards, Kathrynne Nita Andres wrote: > > Jane and Betty, thanks for answering. David's anemia has also been > checked and checked. His late brother had PD and also this anemia. David > is not yet on sinemet, but probably will be in the not so distant > future. I will just have to try steaks and see if that helps. When he > has to go on sinemet, we will have to deal with it somehow. this PD is a > family illness.( I mean everyone's family not just ours, which surely > appears to be genetic, his mother came from Russia and I doubt that > anyone in her family is left.) > > Probably eating a steak won't cause us any harm, we just stopped eating > them years ago and now don't like them. We will just learn to eat them > and see what happens. The iron supplements have been useless. > > If anyone else hs noted a connection, please let us know. Thanks Nita -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Medical nutrition therapy http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ "We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons." --Alfred E. Newman