Iron Deficiency

Iron is an essential nutrient for your body, which you get from your food. It is needed for your mental and physical health and to keep your energy levels up. Iron is present in a substance called haemoglobin, which is found in red blood cells. Haemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the rest of the body. Oxygen is required in your brain for concentration and in your muscles for physical energy. Iron is also needed to maintain a healthy immune system, helping you to fight off infections.

If the iron levels in your body are low, you can become iron deficient. The recommended levels for iron in the body are different for different people, depending on age and gender. Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world.

Over time, iron deficiency can mean that your body makes fewer healthy red blood cells, a condition known as Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA).

If iron deficiency is not treated, there can be long-term consequences for your health. Fatigue and other symptoms of iron deficiency can also lower your quality of life and reduce your ability to concentrate and be productive at work.

Balancing the supply and demand for iron in your body is important to maintain good health. Normally, your iron levels remain in balance, with iron from your diet replacing the iron stores used up by your body. The iron in your food is absorbed into the bloodstream in your small intestine.

The supply and demand for iron in your body can become unbalanced for a number of reasons and this can lead to iron deficiency.

A decreased supply of iron to your body can be caused by

A lack of iron in your diet. Iron can be found in both animal products and plant foods. Iron from animal products (known as haem iron) is better absorbed by your body than iron from plant foods (known as non-haem iron). If you are vegetarian or vegan it is more likely that you will not be getting enough iron. Choosing what you eat wisely can help to keep your iron levels up.
Iron from your food not being absorbed properly in your small intestine. If you have Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis) or coeliac disease, then the lining of your small intestine may be inflamed. This means that less iron can be absorbed from your food into your bloodstream.

An increased demand for iron may be caused by

Blood loss, for example as a result of:

Heavy periods
Internal bleeding from your gut (gastro-intestinal bleeding)
Frequent blood donation
Traumatic injuries/ accidents
Surgery

Increased demand for red blood cells or oxygen in your body, for example as a result of:

Intense exercise
Growth and development in children and adolescents
Pregnancy

Chronic inflammation in diseases such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease or Rheumatoid Arthritis:

If you have a condition that involves chronic inflammation, your immune system can block the release of iron from your body’s iron stores, reducing the amount of iron available to make red blood cells.

Other medical conditions and/or therapies, such as haemodialysis for patients with kidney disease.

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