What causes iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency is when your body doesn’t have enough iron. It is a relatively common condition in the UK, and there are many reasons for low iron levels, from not getting enough iron in the foods you eat to not being able to absorb iron properly due to an existing health condition.
In this article, we explore the causes for low iron, common risk factors for developing an iron deficiency, the symptoms you may experience, and how low iron levels can be treated.
If you are concerned about your iron levels and how they are affecting your health, book a private ferritin blood test today.
What is iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency is when your body's iron levels are too low. There are many reasons for iron deficiency, from not consuming enough iron to experiencing blood loss. Iron deficiency is also common in pregnant women, as their daily iron requirement increases to support the developing placenta and foetus, as well as help meet the demands of extra blood volume.
Iron is needed to help the body make haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around your body. Any extra iron your body has is stored in the liver, so it can be used when needed.
Iron deficiency normally occurs in stages as your body’s stores of iron deplete:
- Iron depletion – This is the first stage when your haemoglobin levels are normal, but your body only has a small amount of stored iron left. Usually, people do not experience any symptoms of iron deficiency during this stage.
- Iron deficiency—This stage is when stored and blood iron levels are low and haemoglobin levels have dropped below normal. Some people start to experience symptoms during this stage, such as tiredness.
- Iron deficiency anaemia—At this stage, your haemoglobin levels are so low that your blood is unable to deliver enough oxygen to your cells. Most people will experience a range of low iron symptoms and reduced immune function, which can make you more prone to infections.
Iron deficiency can usually be treated with supplements, which should help alleviate any symptoms of low iron. However, your doctor will likely carry out some tests to help discover the potential causes of low iron levels, as other interventions may be required.
Symptoms of iron deficiency
The symptoms of iron deficiency may vary slightly depending on the reasons for iron deficiency. But typically, people with iron deficiency will experience:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- A tingling sensation in the legs
- Tongue swelling or soreness
- Cold hands and feet
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Brittle nails
- Hair loss
- Frequent headaches
What are the common causes of iron deficiency?
The most common causes of low iron include:
- Blood loss – this could be due to traumatic injuries, surgery or digestive issues like ulcers or inflammatory bowel disease, as well as heavy menstrual periods in women
- Certain medications – regular use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding
- Poor diet – Not eating enough iron-rich foods can lead to deficiencies
- Certain health conditions – Crohn’s disease, Coeliac disease or gastric bypass surgery can all make it harder for your body to absorb the iron it needs
- Pregnancy – throughout pregnancy, the body needs more iron than usual to support the developing baby and meet the demands of increased blood volume
- Intense exercise – performance athletes in training can be at risk of low iron levels due to the increased demands high-intensity exercise places on their bodies
H2 What are the risk factors for iron deficiency? Different risk factors can increase your risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia. This can include: ? Your age – children aged 6 months to 2 years and adults over 65 are most at risk ? Lifestyle – not enough iron-rich foods or intensive exercise can increase your risk of iron deficiency ? Lead – exposure to lead from water or environmental sources can affect your body’s ability to make red blood cells ? Family history and genetics – haemophilia and von Willebrand disease can both cause you to bleed more which can heighten your risk of low iron ? Gender - girls and women who have heavy periods, are pregnant or breastfeeding need more iron
Treating iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is a relatively common condition that can usually be easily treated with supplements. Most people with iron deficiency are advised to take a 150-200mg supplement daily and a vitamin C supplement, as these can help their bodies absorb iron.
In most circumstances, iron supplements should be taken for a few months to help boost iron levels and stores. However, people with a chronic condition that affects their body’s ability to absorb iron, like Crohn’s disease, or who have had gastric bypass surgery may be advised to take an iron supplement longer term.
Iron supplements can cause some side effects, including constipation, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, heartburn and darker-coloured stools. If you experience these side effects, you can talk to your doctor about alternative supplements or you could try to increase your iron intake through your diet. Foods rich in iron include:
- Beef, pork, liver, chicken, turkey, duck and shellfish
- Leafy greens, like broccoli, kale and spring greens
- Peas and beans
- Fortified cereals and other grains
- Dried fruits, such as prunes and raisins
If supplements and diet don’t help alleviate the symptoms of low iron or your iron deficiency anaemia is severe, you may need a red blood cell transfusion.
Sometimes, surgery may also be advised if it will help alleviate the underlying cause of your iron deficiency. For example, if an ulcer is the cause of your low iron levels, surgery can help treat the ulcer, and your iron levels should return to normal.
Check your iron levels
At Bluecrest Wellness, our private ferritin blood test measures your body’s overall iron levels, so you can take proactive action to boost your iron levels through diet or supplements if you have a deficiency.
You can book a private ferritin blood test at locations across the UK at a time to suit you. Plus, you can be confident that we will deliver fast, efficient and accurate results as we have established links with leading UK laboratories and are fully accredited for a wide range of private blood checks.
