Iron is the body’s most important nutrient, for carrying two oxygen-carrying proteins: hemoglobin and mayo globin. It is needed for various functions in the body including the production of hemoglobin the molecule in the blood that carries oxygen. Iron is necessary to maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails.
What is iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency is caused by the lack of iron in the body. It can occur for many reasons including poor iron diet and blood loss from the body or due to pregnancy.
According to WHO (World Health Organization), anemia is a serious global health concern. It generally affects children, mensurating females, and females who have recently had a baby or recently completed menopause.
The WHO estimates that anemia affects around 30% of females ages 15-49, 37% of pregnant and 40% of children ages 6-59 months.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of anemia worldwide.
Iron deficiency signs and symptoms:
Iron deficiency symptoms develop over time initially, the symptoms can be so mild that it goes unnoticed but can worsen over time if not treated. Common symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Headache
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Picophagia (a condition in which people crave non-food items like ice, chalk, paint, clay, or starch, etc)
- Difficult to concentrate
- Chest pain
- Leg pain
- Brittle nails and hair loss
Is iron deficiency the same thing as anemia?
Iron deficiency is a decrease in the amount of iron stored in the body as mentioned above while anemia is a drop in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) or the amount of hemoglobin in the RBCs.
Iron deficiency anemia comes gradually when the rate of iron loss exceeds the amount you gain from your diet, then the iron stores are used up. At this stage, ferritin will be low, iron and TIBC are usually normal and there is no anemia, but when the iron deficiency increases blood iron levels fall, TIBC, UIBC, and ferritin rise, and red blood cells may start to become small and pale with prolonged and severe iron deficiency. It turns into iron deficiency anemia.
Risk factors of iron deficiency :
- Heavy menstrual periods or bleeding during childbirth
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin
- Stomach ulcers
- Piles
- Vegetarians and people having poor rich diets (vegetables are iron-rich are not absorbed as well as iron from meat, fish, and poultry)
- Children who drink more than 16 to 24 ounces a day of cow milk (cow milk not only contains little iron, but it can also decrease absorption of iron and irritate the intestinal lining)
- Excessive loss of blood due to major surgery or injury or any other reason.
Treatment of iron deficiency :
Iron deficiency can be treated by dietary supplements or medications and iron-rich food.
Your health care may recommend iron supplements to increase iron. Supplements are often available over the counter but it is important to take them as prescribed because too much iron can be toxic and damage the liver.
Large amounts of iron can cause constipation. If you can not take iron orally, you may need to take it through a vein. And in some cases, your health care will recommend blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants.
Self-management can involve adding iron and vitamin C to the diet.
Iron-rich foods:
Legumes: beans, peas, tofu, tempeh
Bread and cereals: whole wheat bread, bran cereals, ion fortified cereals, wheat cereals.
Vegetables: spinach, broccoli, dark leaf greeny, sprouts
Poultry: red meat, liver, fish, poultry, eggs
Remember that iron deficiency takes time to recover. Treating iron deficiency anemia with supplements typically takes 3-6 weeks and requires continuation for 6 months after blood level returns to normal.
