Many people (particularly women) are low in iron without even realizing it. Yet the consequences of iron deficiency can pose a real health risk. Discover the warning signs to look out for and what action to take.
The adult body contains between 2.5g and 4g of iron. It is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood, which is essential for the formation of red blood cells. Iron is thus crucial for oxygenating all the body’s cells, but it is also involved in many other vital processes such as energy metabolism, detoxification, optimal immune system function, and DNA synthesis.
Women of childbearing age need at least 25 mg/day (due to blood loss during menstruation), while adult males and post-menopausal women need at least 12 mg/day. This balance can be achieved over a week, but the diet needs to be rich in iron to meet our long-term needs.
A lack of iron can lead to hemoglobin deficiency in the body: this is referred to as iron-deficiency anemia. The body’s iron levels are too low to produce this essential protein making it impossible to create optimal numbers of ‘working’ red blood cells. This deficit, which poses a health risk, can be detected by a simple blood test which identifies levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin (less than 15 µg/L in the blood) and a red blood cell count all below normal values.
In mild anemia, symptoms usually go unnoticed. They only start to be felt when hemoglobin levels fall below 80g/L and include:
Other signs indicating a possible lack of iron (1) : brittle nails, dry skin and hair, problems concentrating, irritability, sleep issues, onset of restless leg syndrome… These symptoms usually appear gradually, as anemia develops very slowly.
In pregnant women, a lack of iron has implications for the fetus: it can lead to premature birth, mental deficits in the unborn child, and low birth weight (2).
There are three factors which, over time, can lead to a lack of iron (iron deficiency or sideropenia): a a diet persistently low in iron (malnutrition, special diet, unbalanced diet …), problems with iron absorption at a digestive level (inflammatory bowel disease, for example) and significant blood loss.
In light of these causes, several population groups are at risk of iron deficiency:
Remedies and treatments for iron deficiency depend on its severity: only a health professional can recommend the right solution for you. In all cases, however, it’s important to increase your dietary intake by incorporating more iron-rich foods into your daily diet.
There are two main forms of iron: haem iron (found in animal-source foods), which is easily metabolized by the body (with an absorption rate of around 25%), and non-haem iron (present in plant-source foods), which is less well-absorbed (around 5%).
The difference in absorption is explained by the presence of phytic acid and tannins in plants: non-haem iron has to first be ‘released’ by stomach acidity, before being converted by intestinal cell membranes.
Sources of haem iron include: liver, beef, poultry, sardines, shellfish.
Sources of non-haem iron include: tofu, dried fruit, pulses, green vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
On the advice of a health professional, and only when iron deficiency has actually been diagnosed, taking an iron supplement can be really helpful in rapidly restoring your iron reserves. An iron infusion may even be recommended, particularly for iron-deficient pregnant women.
In both cases, medical supervision is required, since taking too much iron carries its risks. Below are some effective measures to accompany any treatment for iron deficiency :
References
Keywords
1 Days
I always receive my products on time.
Kelly
6 Days
Fast service and good products
PERCY
10 Days
fairly quick service. Decent prices
Vyril A
11 Days
Product always arrives timely and in good shape. Company is easy to work with. Website is user-friendly.
Diane
12 Days
The h pylori supplement has helped my digestive issues. I was diagnosed with h pylori more than once. Also was hospitalized with h pylori several times. Even after taking prescription meds for this condition I still had ongoing digestive issues. So I decided to give this product a try. It has helped with the bloating and inflammation in my stomach and chest. So I gave it a 4 star rating. It helps to calm the pain in my stomach and also acid reflux pains. It is a good product and I would recommend.
Sandra
15 Days
Have purchased from this company many times. A package arrived damaged and with an 1 email to customer service it was fixed. Thank you for great products and great customer service
jd
18 Days
Above and beyond customer service! Bravo. Love SuperSmart.
Isabella Jimenez
22 Days
Still great! I have given my opinion on this several times and it remains the same.
WRIGHT Connie
25 Days
I have been very happy with all my supplements from supersmart
kirstin Torres
26 Days
Quality supplements
Edward P
33 Days
Good products at a good price.
HELLAND Edward
35 Days
Any will be taken care of by SuperSmart staff.
DOMINIC
38 Days
Quality 3rd party tested products without fillers
Edward P
39 Days
great products and prices..
Marie
47 Days
product delivered on time and in good shape
Jack