Without enough iron to maintain good hemoglobin levels, your body isn’t able to carry as much oxygen to your organs and muscles. Over time, this lack of oxygen puts more workload for body organs such as the heart and lungs, impairment of the immune responses, and failure to be active and productive in daily life. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) can be especially serious for people with respiratory, cardiac, or other underlying conditions.
Main Factors Contributing to Iron Deficiency 1, 2
The main factors contributing to iron deficiency include both increased iron needs and decreased iron availability.
Increased Iron Needs
Increased iron needs include those arising from a physiologic state such as: menstruation, rapid growth spurts (infants, children, adolescents), pregnancy (2nd/3rd trimester), and lactation. As well as from blood loss including: gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding due to various reasons, heavy menstrual bleeding or blood in the urine, regular blood donation, post-surgery with significant blood loss, and for endurance athletes.
Decrease Iron Availability
Decreased iron availability can be due to decreased intake such as: having a low iron diet (vegetarian/vegan, malnutrition), eating disorders, alcohol use disorder, and age (above 65 years old). As well as having decreased absorption from: diet (carbonated drinks, coffee), upper GI pathology (chronic gastritis, gastric lymphoma, celiac disease), medications that decrease gastric acidity or bind iron (e.g. antiacids/PPIs), gastrectomy or duodenal bypass, bariatric surgery, chronic renal failure, and pediatric short bowel syndrome†.
It is important to treat IDA as soon as possible, stick with treatment until iron reserves are restored and also maintain iron health.
Curious about symptoms of iron deficiency? Explore our Symptom Checker.
†The loss (either congenital or acquired) of an extensive length of the child’s small intestine resulting in an inadequate absorption of enteral nutrients.