Wellness- Iron Deficiency

lron deficiency (ID) occurs when absorption of dietary iron is not sufficient to cover loss of iron and the body’s iron requirements.

The average person has 3,000-4,000mg of iron in the body. 1-2mg is lost and 1-2mg is absorbed and utilised daily. Every 1ml of blood contains 0.5mg of iron and excess blood loss is the key cause of iron deficiency. If iron deficiency is not treated, it may lead to impaired quality of life, a reduced immune system, and ultimately result in anaemia.

ROLE OF IRON

Oxygen transportation around the body (within haemoglobin)
Oxygen utilisation by all cells in our body (giving us energy)

DIAGNOSING IRON DEFICIENCY

Serum ferritin is one of the most reliable markers for iron deficiency.
A simple Iron Profile blood test can provide iron level results within a week.

Healthy level of iron –> Serum Ferritin at > 100ng/mL
Low level of iron –> Serum Ferritin at 31 – 100ng/mL
Absolute iron deficiency –> Serum Ferritin < 30 ng/mL

SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCY

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCIES

Fatigue
Iron deficiency may reduce the body’s oxygen delivery capacity which results in a state of fatigue. Muscles (myoglobin) also require iron for all aerobic activities.

Hair loss
Iron is an essential element of hair growth. Usually, hair loss is one of the first symptoms of iron deficiency and is associated with Serum Ferritin levels falling below <70ng/ml.

Headaches
When deprived of oxygenated blood the muscles in the face, neck and/or shoulders may become tense which can result in more frequent headaches.

Frequent Infections
When iron deficient, it is difficult for the body to defend itself against infections which may result in more frequent common colds, flus and/or infections.

UNCOMMON SYMPTOMS OF IRON DEFICIENCIES

Craving for ice (a.k.a. pica)
Pica is a term used to describe craving and chewing substances that have no nutritional value such as ice. This craving could be a symptom of iron deficiency. It is believed that chewing ice triggers an effect in people with iron deficiency by sending more blood to the brain, causing an increase in alertness. More blood means more oxygen in the brain.

Restless leg syndrome
An uncomfortable and strange sensation in legs and feet, particularly when resting may be related to the restless leg syndrome. Many sufferers feel the need to move the legs to get rid of the feeling. The feeling could be described as itching, burning, crawling or painful, and may affect sleep.
The restless leg syndrome is often caused by iron deficiency.

CAUSES OF IRON DEFICIENCIES

Being Female
1 in 3 women are affected.
37.9% of healthy woman suffer from iron deficiency.
58% of women above 55 years of age are iron deficient.

Heavy Menses
Women of childbearing age lose approximately 60-80ml of blood (30-40mg of iron) every month in a regular cycle which is offset by the iron absorbed from a healthy diet. Blood loss from heavier menses may exceed iron absorption from diet and lead to iron deficiency.

Pregnancy
Women have approximately 3,000mg of iron in their body and pregnancy requires ~1000mg. This is mostly required in the last trimester and is equivalent to almost a year of iron from food sources. Unfortunately, approximately 40% of women are iron deficient when falling pregnant and oral iron supplements aren’t always sufficient to replete the iron deficit.

Chronic Disease
Diseases (such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.) upregulate a peptide called hepcidin which reduces the body’s ability to absorb iron from one’s diet. In addition to this process, the disease (or drugs used to treat) can further limit the iron absorption and/or increase iron loss (due to small bleeding).

Vegetarian Diet
Vegetable (or plant) forms of iron are poorly absorbed by our body. Polyphenols (such as black tea) or phytates (in many nuts and cereals) may reduce the absorption of iron. Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron from dietary sources.

Regular Blood Donation
Every 1ml of blood donated contains 0.5mg of iron. A usual donation is 350-450ml blood which equates to ~200mg of iron. This is approximately equivalent to 100 days (or 3 months) of iron absorbed from an optimal diet. Therefore, frequent blood donations increase the risk of iron deficiency and ultimately anaemia.

GI disturbances
Stomach Acid / GI disturbances may lead to reduced absorption of iron from food (or tablets). Some GI diseases can lead to blood loss which in turn increases loss of iron. If taking antacids (or similar medications) the pH may be increased in the gut which impairs iron absorption from oral sources.

Endurance Exercise
Exercise, particularly high intensity and endurance training increases iron losses by as much as 70% due to heavy sweating plus increased blood loss in the urine and GI tract. For example, foot-strike during endurance running can increase the destruction of red blood cells in the feet, leading to a shorter red blood cell life span. The International Olympic Committee recommends routine iron screening of elite female athletes.

TREATING IRON DEFICIENCY

Intravenous Iron
Rapid correction of iron deficiency.

Oral Iron
Supplements to be taken daily for 6-9 months.

Keen on finding out what your iron level says about you? Contact La Jung at +6014-699 9418 / +603-28567616 and let us walk you through what can be done to have a great wellness lifestyle.

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