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Iron-deficiency anemiaA condition that develops from having insufficient iron levels in the body, resulting in fewer and smaller red blood cells containing lower amounts of hemoglobin. Signs and symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, swollen and sore tongue, and abnormal heart rate. is a condition that develops from having insufficient iron levels in the body resulting in fewer and smaller red blood cells containing lower amounts of hemoglobin. Regardless of the cause (be it from low dietary intake of iron or via excessive blood loss), iron-deficiency anemia has the following signs and symptoms, which are linked to the essential functions of iron in energy metabolism and blood health:
Iron-deficiency anemia is diagnosed from characteristic signs and symptoms and confirmed with simple blood tests that count red blood cells and determine hemoglobin and iron content in blood. Anemia is most often treated with iron supplements and increasing the consumption of foods that are higher in iron. See Table 10.10 "Dietary Sources of Iron" for good dietary sources of iron. Iron supplements have some adverse side effects including nausea, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Reducing the dose at first and then gradually increasing to the full dose often minimizes the side effects of iron supplements. Avoiding foods and beverages high in phytates and also tea (which contains tannic acid and polyphenols, both of which impair iron absorption), is important for people who have iron-deficiency anemia. Eating a dietary source of vitamin C at the same time as iron-containing foods improves absorption of nonheme iron in the gut. Additionally, unknown compounds that likely reside in muscle tissue of meat, poultry, and fish increase iron absorption from both heme and nonheme sources. See Table 10.11 "Enhancers and Inhibitors of Iron Absorption" for more enhancers and inhibitors for iron absorption.
Table 10.10 Dietary Sources of Iron
Food | Milligrams per serving | Percent RDA (males) | Percent RDA (females) |
---|---|---|---|
Oysters (3 oz.) | 13.20 | 165 | 73 |
Beef liver (3 oz.) | 7.50 | 94 | 42 |
Prune juice (½ c.) | 5.20 | 65 | 29 |
Clams (2 oz.) | 4.20 | 53 | 23 |
Walnuts (½ c.) | 3.75 | 47 | 21 |
Chickpeas (½ c.) | 3.00 | 38 | 19 |
Bran flakes (½ c.) | 2.80 | 37 | 16 |
Pork roast (3 oz.) | 2.70 | 34 | 15 |
Raisins (½ c.) | 2.55 | 32 | 14 |
Roast beef (3 oz.) | 1.80 | 23 | 10 |
Green peas (½ c.) | 1.50 | 19 | 8 |
Peanuts (½ c.) | 1.50 | 19 | 8 |
Green beans (½ c.) | 1.00 | 13 | 6 |
Egg (1) | 1.00 | 13 | 6 |
Source: University of Maryland Medical Center. “Iron.” © 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/iron-000309.htm#ixzz2BIykoCPs.
Table 10.11 Enhancers and Inhibitors of Iron Absorption
Enhancer | Inhibitor |
---|---|
Meat | Phosphate |
Fish | Calcium |
Poultry | Tea |
Seafood | Coffee |
Stomach acid | Colas |
Soy protein | |
High doses of minerals (antacids) | |
Bran/fiber | |
Phytates | |
Oxalates | |
Polyphenols |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Iron and Iron Deficiency.” Accessed October 2, 2011. http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/basics/vitamins/iron.html. The WHO estimates that 80 percent of people are iron deficient and 30 percent of the world population has iron-deficiency anemia.The World Bank. “Anemia.” Accessed October 2, 2011. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTHEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/EXTPHAAG/0,,contentMDK:20588506~menuPK:1314803~pagePK:64229817~piPK:64229743 ~theSitePK:672263,00.html. The main causes of iron deficiency worldwide are parasitic worm infections in the gut causing excessive blood loss, and malaria, a parasitic disease causing the destruction of red blood cells. In the developed world, iron deficiency is more the result of dietary insufficiency and/or excessive blood loss occurring during menstruation or child-birth.
Infants, children, adolescents, and women are the populations most at risk worldwide for iron-deficiency anemia by all causes. Infants, children, and even teens require more iron because iron is essential for growth. In these populations, iron deficiency (and eventually iron-deficiency anemia) can also cause the following signs and symptoms: poor growth, failure to thrive, and poor performance in school, as well as mental, motor, and behavioral disorders. Women who experience heavy menstrual bleeding or who are pregnant require more iron in the diet. One more high-risk group is the elderly. Both elderly men and women have a high incidence of anemia and the most common causes are dietary iron deficiency and chronic disease such as ulcer, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Additionally, those who have recently suffered from traumatic blood loss, frequently donate blood, or take excessive antacids for heartburn need more iron in the diet.
Iron Deficiency
(click to see video)This video provides a brief overview on how good nutrition can prevent the development of iron-deficiency anemia.
The body excretes little iron and therefore the potential for accumulation in tissues and organs is considerable. Iron accumulation in certain tissues and organs can cause a host of health problems in children and adults including extreme fatigue, arthritis, joint pain, and severe liver and heart toxicity. In children, death has occurred from ingesting as little as 200 mg of iron and therefore it is critical to keep iron supplements out of children’s reach. The IOM has set tolerable upper intake levels of iron (Table 10.12 "Tolerable Upper Intake Levels of Iron"). Mostly a hereditary disease, hemochromatosis is the result of a genetic mutation that leads to abnormal iron metabolism and an accumulation of iron in certain tissues such as the liver, pancreas, and heart. The signs and symptoms of hemochromatosis are similar to those of iron overload in tissues caused by high dietary intake of iron or other nongenetic metabolic abnormalities, but are often increased in severity.
Table 10.12 Tolerable Upper Intake Levels of Iron
Age | Males (mg/day) | Females (mg/day) | Pregnancy (mg/day) | Lactation (mg/day) |
---|---|---|---|---|
7–12 months | 40 | 40 | N/A | N/A |
1–13 years | 40 | 40 | N/A | N/A |
14–18 years | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
19+ years | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 |
Source: Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. January 9, 2001. http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2001/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Vitamin-A-Vitamin-K-Arsenic-Boron-Chromium-Copper-Iodine-Iron-Manganese-Molybdenum-Nickel-Silicon-Vanadium-and-Zinc.aspx.
In young children iron-deficiency anemia can cause significant motor, mental, and behavior abnormalities that are long-lasting. In the United States, the high incidence of iron-deficiency anemia in infants and children was a major public-health problem prior to the early 1970s, but now the incidence has been greatly reduced. This achievement was accomplished by implementing the screening of infants for iron-deficiency anemia in the health sector as a common practice, advocating the fortification of infant formulas and cereals with iron, and distributing them in supplemental food programs, such as that within Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Breastfeeding, iron supplementation, and delaying the introduction of cow’s milk for at least the first twelve months of life were also encouraged. These practices were implemented across the socioeconomic spectrum and by the 1980s iron-deficiency anemia in infants had significantly declined. Other solutions had to be introduced in young children, who no longer were fed breastmilk or fortified formulas and were consuming cow’s milk. The following solutions were introduced to parents: provide a diet rich in sources of iron and vitamin C, limit cow’s milk consumption to less than twenty-four ounces per day, and a multivitamin containing iron.
While supplementation may be necessary in acute situations, the best way to boost your iron intake is through good eating habits.
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In the third world, iron-deficiency anemia remains a significant public-health challenge. The World Bank claims that a million deaths occur every year from anemia and that the majority of those occur in Africa and Southeast Asia. The World Bank states five key interventions to combat anemia:The World Bank. “Anemia.” Accessed October 2, 2011. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTHEALTHNUTRITIONANDPOPULATION/EXTPHAAG/0,,contentMDK:20588506~menuPK:1314803~pagePK:64229817~piPK:64229743 ~theSitePK:672263,00.html
Also, there is ongoing investigation as to whether supplying iron cookware to at-risk populations is effective in preventing and treating iron-deficiency anemia.