Tag: Dark stool

According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, often treated with iron supplements. A very common and often alarming side effect of this treatment is a noticeable change in color, particularly in stool and sometimes other areas.

According to medical experts, vitamin D supplements themselves do not directly cause dark or black stool. Instead, this change in stool color can signal a variety of other issues, ranging from benign dietary factors to potentially serious internal bleeding, and is often linked to other medications like iron supplements.

An estimated one in every 20 adults in the United States has a vitamin B12 deficiency, and many turn to supplements to correct it. For those starting a new regimen, a change in bodily functions, such as stool appearance, can be alarming and raises the question: Can B12 supplements change stool color?