Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from too little iron in the body. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the world. In the USA, despite food fortification, iron deficiency is on the rise in certain populations. Iron deficiency at critical times of growth and development can result in premature births, low birth weight babies, delayed growth and development, delayed normal infant activity and movement. Iron deficiency can result in poor memory or poor cognitive skills (mental function) and can result in poor performance in school, work,and in military or recreational activities. Lower IQs have been linked to iron deficiency occurring during critical periods of growth.
Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency
A person who is iron deficient may also be anemic and as a result may have one or more symptoms of anemia. These can include, chronic fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches, depression, sore tongue, sensitivity to cold (low body temp), shortness of breath doing simple tasks (climbing stairs, walking short distances, doing housework), restless legs syndrome, and loss of interest in work, recreation, relationships and intimacy.
Causes iron deficiency
Iron deficiency can be the result of numerous and multiple causes. These fall into two broad categories: an increased need for iron and/or decreased intake or absorption of iron.
Increased demand:
Iron deficiency can occur during rapid periods of growth. For this reason nature makes certain that developing fetuses, newborns and infants up until the age of about six months have an ample supply of iron. Conditions that result in iron deficiency include blood loss from heavy menstruation, pregnancy, frequent or excessive blood donation, fibroids, digestive tract disease (including infections), as well as surgeries and accidents. Iron deficiency can also be caused by certain medications, some dietary supplements or substances that cause bleeding such as pain relievers with aspirin, and also as a result of poisoning from lead, toxic chemicals or alcohol abuse.
Decreased intake or absorption
Decreased intake or absorption can occur in diets that do not include heme iron, the iron in meat and shellfish. Heme iron is absorbed more efficiently than non-heme iron found in plants and dietary supplements. Other nutrients, however, such as vitamins C and B12, folate or zinc can facilitate sufficient non-heme iron absorption. Consuming certain foods and medications can interfere with the absorption of iron. These include dairy products, coffee, tea, chocolate, eggs, and fiber. Medication that inhibit iron absorption include antacids, proton pump inhibitors (to treat acid reflux) or calcium supplements. Diseases conditions can also limit iron absorption; this can happen as a result of insufficient stomach acid, lack of intrinsic factor (hormone needed to absorb vitamin B12), celiac disease, inflammatory conditions such as Crohn’s disease, and in autoimmune diseases and hormone imbalances.
Most at risk for iron deficiency
Women, children and the elderly are most at risk. African American and Hispanic women and their young children are prone to iron deficiency, possibly because of diet or perhaps different hemoglobin needs. Men are rarely iron deficient; but when they are, it is generally due to blood loss from the digestive tract (sometimes indicating disease), diseases that affect iron absorption, and in some cases, alcohol abuse. Except for those who are strict vegetarians, men rarely have dietary iron deficiency.
How iron deficiency is detected and diagnosed
The tests used most often to detect iron deficiency include hemoglobin (the iron-containing protein in the blood that carries iron and oxygen to cells), hematocrit which provides the percentage measures of of red blood cells in the blood, serum ferritin, which indicates the amount of iron stored in the body, and serum iron and iron-binding capacity (IBC, UIBC or TIBC). The latter measures are used to calculate transferrin-iron saturation percentage (TS%), a measure of iron in transit in the serum. Serum ferritin is a very important test because it helps distinguish between iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease (also called anemia of inflammatory response). In cases of iron deficiency anemia, iron supplements can be helpful; but in cases of anemia of chronic disease, iron supplements could be harmful.
Other tests might include: a complete blood count, zinc protoporphyrin, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin or reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr). To learn more about these tests visit tests to determine iron levels.
A diagnosis of iron deficiency can be made when a person has both low hemoglobin and hematocrit and low serum ferritin. Serum iron and, transferrin-iron saturation percentage will also be low in a person who is iron deficient. Iron deficiency without anemia can occur when a person has a normal hemoglobin, but below normal serum ferritin and/or transferrin saturation. Iron deficiency with anemia can occur when a person has low values of both serum ferritin and hemoglobin.
How iron deficiency is treated
The approaches used to treat iron deficiency depend on the presence or threat of anemia and its causes, which may be increased demand for iron (pregnancy, growth spurt), blood loss (heavy periods, giving birth, surgery, injury, disease), diet or behavior, interference with iron absorption, and abnormal blood cell formation or management. Some approaches are as simple as dietary changes and others involve taking iron supplements, which are available in heme and non heme form. Some people with significant iron deficiency might require iron infusions or whole blood transfusions to restore iron sufficiency.
If you suspect that you are iron deficient, we encourage you to work with a medical professional to find out why your are iron deficient and then to increase your knowledge about the different ways low iron stores can be replenished. Visit the our Iron library, in the getting started section and read the Anemia Starter Kit. Then, you can evaluate the best approaches to replenish iron levels.
Links to more information about iron deficiency:
MMWR http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5140a1.htm
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Nutritionhttp://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/nutrition_for_everyone/iron_deficiency/
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=15&doc_id=9274&nbr=4965#s23
Our Need For Iron
Iron is so important that without it all life would cease to exist. Every living thing: plants, animals, human beings, bacteria (good and bad), even cancer cells all need iron to survive and grow.
Plants require iron to make chlorophyll, which is necessary for growth and generating oxygen for people to breathe. Plants, animals, and human beings require iron to make DNA, which encodes all life. Animals and humans also need iron to make hemoglobin, which delivers oxygen to the body. Iron also carries carbon dioxide out of the body, which plants need to function.
Humans also need iron to make myoglobin in muscles. Myoglobin is a protein like hemoglobin, except that it is an oxygen storage protein contained in muscles of the body. We call upon the oxygen stored in myoglobin when we use our muscles to walk, run, climb or move in any way.
Once the iron is consumed, many iron balancing systems are in place to make certain that we get just enough. Some people are born with iron balancing systems that do not work right. These people can absorb too much iron from the diet. When this happens, iron collects in organs such as the liver, heart, joints, pancreas and pituitary causing these organs to function poorly or not to work at all.
There are also people who do not have enough iron. This is because they have poor diets, or they cannot absorb iron very well, or they lose a lot of blood (accidents, monthly period, surgery, or disease) or they cannot make or destroy red blood cells normally. These people become iron deficient and some become anemic. Some can develop anemia with iron overload.
It is critical that we have enough iron available at certain stages of life when we are growing rapidly. Children who are deficient in iron during these important stages can have lower IQ's, problems with concentration and their body may not develop like others their age. On the other hand, iron can be so deadly that 250 milligrams can poison a small child.
Finally, there are people who have inherited conditions or need lots of blood transfusions to survive. The blood transfusions contain a lot of iron. The body cannot get rid of excess iron except through blood loss. Without treatment, these patients can develop iron overload, become very sick and possibly die.
Read more about genetics, iron overload, blood transfusions, therapy for iron overload or iron deficiency.
Humans also need iron to make myoglobin in muscles. Myoglobin is a protein like hemoglobin, except that it is an oxygen storage protein contained in muscles of the body. We call upon the oxygen stored in myoglobin when we use our muscles to walk, run, climb or move in any way.
Once the iron is consumed, many iron balancing systems are in place to make certain that we get just enough. Some people are born with iron balancing systems that do not work right. These people can absorb too much iron from the diet. When this happens, iron collects in organs such as the liver, heart, joints, pancreas and pituitary causing these organs to function poorly or not to work at all.
There are also people who do not have enough iron. This is because they have poor diets, or they cannot absorb iron very well, or they lose a lot of blood (accidents, monthly period, surgery, or disease) or they cannot make or destroy red blood cells normally. These people become iron deficient and some become anemic. Some can develop anemia with iron overload.
It is critical that we have enough iron available at certain stages of life when we are growing rapidly. Children who are deficient in iron during these important stages can have lower IQ's, problems with concentration and their body may not develop like others their age. On the other hand, iron can be so deadly that 250 milligrams can poison a small child.
Finally, there are people who have inherited conditions or need lots of blood transfusions to survive. The blood transfusions contain a lot of iron. The body cannot get rid of excess iron except through blood loss. Without treatment, these patients can develop iron overload, become very sick and possibly die.
Read more about genetics, iron overload, blood transfusions, therapy for iron overload or iron deficiency.
