Iron Deficiency by Jane Thurnell-Read

What is iron and why do we need it?

Iron is a mineral needed by our bodies. Iron is a part of all cells and does many things in our bodies. For example, iron (as part of the protein haemoglobin) carries oxygen from our lungs throughout our bodies. Having too little haemoglobin is called anaemia. Iron also helps our muscles store and use oxygen.

Iron is a part of many enzymes and is used in many cell functions. Enzymes help our bodies digest foods and also help with many other important reactions that occur within our bodies. When our bodies don’t have enough iron, many parts of our bodies are affected.

Why Is Iron Important?

• Iron deficiency can delay normal infant motor function (normal activity and movement) or mental function (normal thinking and processing skills).3-6

• Iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy can increase risk for small or early (preterm) babies.7-8 Small or early babies are more likely to have health problems or die in the first year of life than infants who are born full term and are not small.

• Iron deficiency can cause tiredness makes it harder to carry out normal daily tasks

• Iron deficiency may also affect memory or other mental function in teenagers.

Iron Deficiency Causes

Iron deficiency occurs when there is insufficient iron in the diet, or else the iron in the diet is not properly absorbed.

Some people have increased need for iron:

• Infants and toddlers need more iron than older children. Sometimes it can be hard for them to get enough iron from their normal diet.

• Pregnant women have higher iron needs. To get enough, most women must take an iron supplement as recommended by their healthcare provider.

• When people lose blood, they also lose iron. They need extra iron to replace what they have lost. Increased blood loss can occur with heavy menstrual periods, frequent blood donation, as well as with some stomach and intestinal conditions (e.g. food sensitivity, hookworms).

Decreased absorption of iron can happen too:

• Iron from meat, poultry, and fish (i.e., heme iron) is absorbed two to three times more efficiently than iron from plants (i.e., non-heme iron). This does not mean a vegetarian diet is unhealthy. In fact there are many good reasons to be vegetarian (lower risk of many cancers being one of them). In fact a  lack of iron is one of the most common problems most people's diet. It is just as much a nutritional problem for meat eaters as it is for vegetarians and research shows that vegetarians are no more prone to iron deficiency than meat eaters! Even meat eaters get 86% of their iron from vegetarian sources. Foods rich in vitamin C such as fruit and vegetables help the absorption of iron from non-animal sources.

• Substances (such as polyphenols, phytates, or calcium) that are part of some foods or drinks such as tea, coffee, whole grains, legumes and milk or dairy products can decrease the amount of non-heme iron absorbed at a meal. Calcium can also decrease the amount heme-iron absorbed at a meal. However, for healthy individuals who consume a varied diet that conforms to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the amount of iron inhibition from these substances is usually not of concern.

• Taking antacids beyond the recommended dose or medicine used to treat peptic ulcer disease and acid reflux can reduce the amount of acid in the stomach and the iron absorbed and cause iron deficiency.

Signs Of Iron Deficiency Anaemia

• Feeling tired and weak

• Decreased work and school performance

• Slow cognitive and social development during childhood

• Difficulty maintaining body temperature

• Decreased immune function, which increases susceptibility to infection

• Glossitis (an inflamed tongue)

      
Your doctor or healthcare provider can do blood tests to screen for iron deficiency, but these tests often do not show that iron levels (hemoglobin and hematocrit levels) are decreased until you have been experiencing iron deficiency for some time.

 Iron Deficiency Treatment

If you are found to have an iron deficiency, it is important to see your healthcare provider for treatment. Your treatment will depend on factors such as your age, health, and cause of iron deficiency.
If your doctor or health care provider thinks that you have iron deficiency she or he may prescribe iron supplements for you to take and then ask that you return after a period to have your hemoglobin or hematocrit tested.

If your healthcare provider determines that the iron deficiency is due to a diet low in iron, you might be told to eat more iron-rich foods. Your health care provider may also prescribe an iron supplement for you.