Iron Deficiency in Children

Iron is absolutely vital to the health and development of your child. Without sufficient levels of functioning and stored iron, cognitive and physical growth is hindered and lifelong consequences may develop. As with nearly all minerals, there are various factors affecting the bioavailability of dietary iron. In order to better understand the absorption of iron, it is necessary to understand the mineral itself, and how it is utilized by the body.

When we breathe in, oxygen flows into our lungs. Our heart pumps blood to and from our lungs, where red blood cells containing hemoglobin bind the oxygen molecules. Red blood cells circulate throughout the body, providing necessary oxygen to our muscles, brain, vital organs, etc.

Without enough iron, our red blood cells will not produce sufficient hemoglobin to adequately bind oxygen and carry it throughout the body. Not only will our bodies lack hemoglobin, but without iron, our bone marrow will be unable to produce effective red blood cells.

Low iron symptoms and iron deficient anemia

We low iron levels go unchecked we can develop iron deficient anemia and experience a host of unpleasant side effects, including:

Fatigue
Tachycardia
Mood swings
Dermatologic manifestations
Bleeding problems

Iron is especially important to children because of their periods of rapid growth. The expansion of bones, blood volume, muscles, skin, internal organs and neurological changes require large stores of iron to support growth. It is important to support your child’s development by providing a healthy, well balanced diet rich in minerals and nutrients.