Introduction
In New Zealand, 10% of women and 1% of men have iron deficiency, with a proportion showing iron deficiency anaemia. Iron is needed by your body to produce hemoglobin in your red blood cells that carry oxygen to your body. Low iron levels are related to tiredness, fatigue, heart palpitations, and shortness of breath on exercise. In women, it can lead to irregular menstruation.
Importance of Iron in Your Body
Iron is an essential nutrient - which means you cannot live without it. 70% of your iron is found in your haemoglobin - the chemical in your red blood cells that gives it the red colour. The iron helps to make the haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries the oxygen it collects from your lungs to the rest of the body. The oxygen is needed for metabolism. Iron is also used in many metabolic processes and also in production of your DNA and your hormones. Note that haemochromatosis is a genetic condition where your body cannot remove excess iron (leading to very thick blood - which is not good).
Why is Iron Deficiency A Problem
Short term mild iron deficiency is not a problem as the body can use stored iron in your muscle, liver, spleen and bone marrow to replete the blood iron. But if iron deficiency continues, then iron deficiency anemia sets in. The red cells produced are smaller and so cannot carry the right amount of oxygen to the rest of the body.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
Symptoms of Iron deficiency includes but is not limited to:
- fatigue and tiredness
- poor concentration
- shortness of breath
-heart palpitations, angina or chest pain
- easy to get infections
What Causes Iron Deficiency?
- Poor intake of foods that contain iron (meat. green leafy vegetables, etc especially if you are in a high risk group
- poor absorption especially if you have certain diseases like coeliac disease or after a surgery
- heavy blood losses such as with menstruation, regular nose bleeds or bowel ulcer
- if you are in high risk group such as childhood, adolescence, during pregnancy or an athlete.
- in chronic inflammation, iron may be stored in liver as part of the protective mechanism against infection.
How to Treat Iron Deficiency?
Since iron is absorbed only in small amounts daily, it is important to eat foods that contain iron every day. Foods high in iron are:
- meat and fish such as beef, lamb (especially liver and kidney), oysters and mussels, pork, chicken (though white meat needs a splash of lemon juice before eating to help with absorption.
- vegetables and legumes especially green leafy vegetables, peas, pumpkin
- whole grains and fortified cereals
At times, depending on the level of iron deficiency you have, your GP may decide to do an blood infusion for iron.