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Disorders of Iron
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Search by Disorder
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| Iron Related Issues
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| Iron Deficiency Anemia
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Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is a condition where one has inadequate amounts of iron to meet body demands such as during periods of rapid growth and pregnancy. IDA is usually due to a diet insufficient in iron or from blood loss. Blood loss can be acute as in hemorrhage or trauma or long term as in heavy menstruation.
Most at risk are young children whose growth demands are great, the elderly whose diets are many times lacking and women who are pregnant or of childbearing age.
Fatigue is the most common complaint, along with malaise (vague feeling of physical discomfort or uneasiness) sensitivity to cold, shortness of breath, dizziness and restless legs syndrome (uncomfortable feeling in legs, sensations of pulling, tingling, crawling, accompanied by a need to move the legs).
Hemoglobin and serum ferritin are the most common ways to test for anemia. A new test called serum transferrin receptor is a good way to determine iron deficiency anemia because this test is not affected by inflammation.
Your physician may determine you are iron deficient if your hemoglobin is low (less than 10.0g/dL for females and 12.0g/dL for males.
Note: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention uses 11.9g/dL for both males and female)and serum ferritin low (less than 15ng/mL for females, 20ng/mL in males.
Note: One can be anemic as reflected in a low hemoglobin but have an elevated ferritin. Before supplementing with iron by pill, injection or infusion, we encourage you to read our section on anemia of chronic disease and share this with your physician.
IDA can be the result of inadequate daily intake of iron, pregnancy, growth spurts or blood loss due to heavy period or internal bleeding. If IDA is related to inadequate iron in diet, usually adding three portions of lean red meat (heme iron sources) per week, along with all other essential vitamins and minerals will correct anemia.
If anemia is due to increased demand for iron such as a growth spurt (toddlers, adolescents) or pregnancy, oral supplementation may be necessary. Short term supplementation with moderate doses (30-60 mgs daily) of oral iron, combined with increased consumption of heme-rich sources of iron may be sufficient to address iron demands. Much will depend upon the patient's general health, established hemoglobin pattern, ferritin levels, symptoms, family history and current diet.
Large doses of supplemental oral iron have not been proven beneficial. Studies conducted by Dr. Janet Hunt, Grand Forks Nutritional Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, indicate that our body's natural regulation mechanism will adjust for the amount of iron absorption during periods of growth and pregnancy. Increased supplementation in normal individuals can cause additional and possibly unnecessary iron to go into burial as reflected by ferritin elevation.
If hemoglobin does not respond within 30-45 days, perhaps anemia is due to another cause and should be further investigated. Among other causes of anemia are disorders such as problems of iron utilization, absorption, red blood cell production, vitamin B12 deficiency or other mineral deficiencies, kidney function, bone marrow production, and hemoglobinapathies such as thalassemia. Also, potentially serious infection or inflammation may be present.
When hemoglobin levels are seriously low, the heart is particularly vulnerable. Whole blood transfusion or IV iron may needed to stabilize hemoglobin levels. Parenteral or IV iron can be administered by injection or infusion. Again, this type therapy is usually reserved for cases of trauma where blood loss is life-threatening and not used for insufficiency due to inadequate dietary iron intake.
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