Iron deficiency or iron deficiency symptoms include fatigue, lack of energy, itching and hair loss. Iron is a mineral and one of the components of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen throughout the body. If you don’t get enough iron (and/or lose too much iron), your body can’t produce enough hemoglobin, causing you to become anemic. Iron deficiency symptoms include fatigue, pale skin, restless legs, shortness of breath, headaches, anxiety, hair loss, a sore tongue, a fast heartbeat and spoon nails. An iron deficiency is treated with iron supplementation. In addition, it is important that the cause of the iron deficiency is determined so that it can be treated.
- Two main forms of iron
- Causes
- Blood loss
- A lack of iron in your diet
- An inability to absorb iron
- Pregnancy
- To play sports
- Risk groups for iron deficiency
- Women in their menstrual period
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Young people under the age of 22
- Vegetarians and vegans
- Symptoms of iron deficiency: itching, hair loss, headache, tired
- Tired and exhausted
- Pale skin
- Restless legs
- Itch
- Headache
- Being out of breath easily
- Spoon nails
- Fear
- Hair loss
- Sore tongue
- Increased heart rate
- Irregular heartbeat
- Complications
- Sources of iron
- Treatment of iron deficiency
- Do not self-diagnose an iron deficiency
Two main forms of iron
Iron occurs in two main forms in food: heme iron and non-heme iron. Heme iron is more easily absorbed by the human body and is only present in animal foods. Non-heme iron is of lower quality and mainly occurs in plant foods. Animal foods are therefore more effective for iron intake than vegetable sources such as vegetables, grains and bread. However, vitamin C ensures that you better absorb non-heme iron from plant sources. If you eat fruit or vegetables with every meal, your body absorbs iron more easily.
Iron is essential for the human body because it is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin transports oxygen through the blood to all cells, tissues and organs of the body. If chronic iron deficiency occurs, it can eventually lead to anemia (iron deficiency anemia) and organ failure.
Causes
Iron deficiency occurs when your body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that gives the blood its red color and ensures the transport of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) through the blood. If you don’t get enough iron, or if you lose too much iron, your body can’t produce enough hemoglobin, and you will eventually develop iron deficiency anemia. This is anemia due to an iron deficiency. Causes of iron deficiency include:
Blood loss
Blood contains iron in red blood cells. So when you lose blood, you lose iron. Women with heavy periods are at greater risk of iron deficiency and anemia because they lose blood during menstruation. Slow, chronic blood loss in the body, such as from a stomach ulcer or colon cancer, can also cause iron deficiency.
A lack of iron in your diet
Your body gets iron from the food you eat. However, if you consume too little iron, your body’s iron stores will be depleted and over time you will develop an iron deficiency. Examples of iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, green vegetables and iron-fortified foods. For proper growth and development, infants and children also need iron in their diet.
An inability to absorb iron
Iron from food is absorbed into your blood in your small intestine. An intestinal disorder, such as celiac disease, that affects your intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients from digested food can lead to iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. If part of your small intestine has been surgically removed, it can affect your ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.
Pregnancy
Iron deficiency during pregnancy is common. The unborn child also needs iron for the production of his or her blood. This is taken from the pregnant woman’s body and she can therefore quickly develop an iron deficiency. You must compensate for this deficiency by maintaining an iron-rich diet.
To play sports
Athletes are susceptible to iron deficiency because regular exercise increases iron needs in a number of ways. For example, intense training promotes the production of red blood cells, while iron is lost through sweating.
Risk groups for iron deficiency
The chance of an iron deficiency is not that great, since the body obtains more iron from food if an iron deficiency threatens. However, there are a number of risk groups that are more likely to suffer from an iron deficiency:
Women in their menstrual period
During their fertile period, women have a greater need for iron due to monthly blood loss.
An unborn child in the womb with the placenta / Source: Magnus Manske / Amada44, Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Pregnant women need more iron because more blood flows through their bodies and because the placenta and developing fetus also need iron.
Young people under the age of 22
Babies, young children and teenagers have greater iron needs because of their growth.
Vegetarians and vegans
The human body absorbs heme iron from meat better than non-heme iron from vegetable products. However, vitamin C promotes the absorption of non-heme iron.
Symptoms of iron deficiency: itching, hair loss, headache, tired
The symptoms of an iron deficiency often only arise when less iron has been active in the body for a longer period of time and the iron stores in the spleen and liver have shrunk. The most important symptoms that can occur with an iron deficiency are discussed below.
Fatigue due to an iron deficiency / Source: Istock.com/dolgachov
Tired and exhausted
The most common symptom of iron deficiency is fatigue. Because less oxygen is transported through the body, fatigue and eventually even a feeling of exhaustion may occur. If fatigue is accompanied by general weakness, irritability and impaired concentration, then iron (or a lack thereof) may have something to do with it.
Pale skin
Due to the shortage of red blood cells, you will look pale or have pale skin. This paleness of the skin and mucous membranes (eyes, inside of the mouth) and under the fingernails is quite easy to recognize, especially in people with a light skin color.
Restless legs
About 15% of people with restless legs syndrome (RBS), which is usually referred to as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), have iron deficiency. The lower the iron content, the more severe the complaints.
Itch
In some people, pruritus (itching) occurs due to iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency can cause headaches / Source: Istock.com/JackF
Headache
A body suffering from an iron deficiency will first send oxygen to the brain (and other vital organs) before supplying the rest of the body. But even then, the brain often does not receive enough oxygen, which can cause veins to swell and headaches to occur.
Being out of breath easily
With an iron deficiency, sufficient new red blood cells are produced that transport oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body. With a shortage of red blood cells, sufficient oxygen reaches the organs, tissues and muscles. This makes you get out of breath faster. If you notice that you are short of breath and quickly get out of breath due to activities that you normally have no difficulty with, such as climbing stairs, walking or cycling or your usual sports activities, then it is wise to have it tested to see if you have an iron deficiency.
Spoon nails
Iron deficiency can lead to spoon nails, a deformity of the nails in which the nails are thin and concave.
Anxiety due to iron deficiency / Source: Istock.com/bahados
Fear
A persistent iron deficiency can cause you to feel anxious. A lack of oxygen puts your nervous system into high gear. In addition, iron deficiency causes a faster heart rate. This combination of factors gives you the feeling of being in ‘fight or flight’ mode.
Hair loss
When iron deficiency progresses to full-blown anemia, it can result in hair loss. The body sets priorities and, in the event of a lack of oxygen, will first supply the vital organs with oxygen instead of the hair. Iron deficiency is a known cause of hair loss. Only when less iron is active in the body for a long time and the iron supply has been significantly used, will someone suffer from hair loss.
Sore tongue
In addition to draining the color from your tongue, an iron deficiency can also lower myoglobin levels. Myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein in muscle, and the human tongue is mainly composed of muscle. People with an iron deficiency may complain of a sore, inflamed and tender tongue.
Increased heart rate
If the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is too low, the heart has to work harder to pump the reduced amount of oxygen in the blood. This can cause an increased heart rate, especially during exertion.
Irregular heartbeat
Prolonged overworking of the heart can lead to an irregular heartbeat, heart murmur and even heart failure. An iron deficiency can worsen existing heart problems.
Complications
Anemia due to an iron deficiency usually does not cause any complications. However, without treatment it can become serious and lead to health problems, including:
- Heart problems: a fast or irregular heartbeat. Your heart has to pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen in your blood. This can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.
- Problems during pregnancy: In women who have just become pregnant, an iron deficiency can lead to a shorter gestational age and babies with a low birth weight. But the condition can be prevented in pregnant women who receive iron supplements as part of their prenatal care.
- Growth problems: In infants and children, severe iron deficiency can lead to anemia, as well as delayed growth and development. In addition, iron deficiency anemia is associated with an increased susceptibility to infections.
Whole wheat bread, whole wheat multi-grain bread and rye bread contain a lot of iron / Source: Istock.com/Lyashik
Sources of iron
Important sources of iron include:
- (organ) meat
- wild
- seaweed
- Mussels
- green leafy vegetables (parsley)
- grain products
- dried fruit
- nuts
- Whole grain bread
Collection of blood for research / Source: Istock.com/Jovanmandic
Treatment of iron deficiency
Your iron status can be easily checked by a blood test. The treatment depends on your iron status and can consist of:
- Treating an underlying problem: It is very important that the cause of the iron deficiency is investigated and, if it has a medical cause, that it is treated appropriately.
- Iron depletion: The doctor will inform you about iron-rich foods. Another blood test is done about six months later to check whether your iron levels have improved.
- Iron deficiency: Dietary advice will be given and this will be closely monitored. Eating iron-rich foods is encouraged, while foods and drinks that can interfere with iron absorption are discouraged. Tannins in tea and coffee can interfere with iron absorption, as can phytates in nuts, vegetables and grains. Your iron status is checked regularly and iron supplementation can be prescribed.
- Iron deficiency anemia: iron supplements are prescribed. It can take six months to a year for the body to reach the right level. The levels are regularly assessed through blood tests.
Do not self-diagnose an iron deficiency
Taking iron supplements when you are tired will not help unless you have actually been diagnosed with an iron deficiency. There may be another cause for your symptoms. Since iron supplements are available over the counter, it can be tempting to self-diagnose without having an iron deficiency diagnosed through blood tests. However, this is not recommended for several reasons:
- Fatigue, paleness, dizziness and shortness of breath are symptoms of many other conditions, not just iron deficiency. Some of these conditions are serious and should preferably be detected and treated early. This offers a greater chance of recovery. You can waste valuable time if you doctor yourself instead of discussing your complaints with your doctor.
- The supplements will not relieve your symptoms if they are not caused by an iron deficiency. In that case, you spend unnecessary money on iron tablets that you do not need.
- Unnecessary iron supplementation can affect your body’s absorption of other minerals, including zinc and copper.
- Too much iron can lead to iron poisoning. Early symptoms include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Gradually, the excess iron accumulates in the organs and causes potentially fatal damage to the brain and liver.
- About one in 300 people has hemochromatosis, a hereditary condition in which the body absorbs more iron than normal. An excess of iron damages the body’s tissues and increases the risk of cancer and heart disease. People with such a condition should try to limit the amount of iron entering the body by reducing the amount of iron in the diet. Hemochromatosis is treated by taking blood.
read more
- Iron deficiency: symptoms, cause, consequences and iron supplementation
- Heavy legs, dizzy, tired, headache: iron deficiency
- Iron deficiency increases the risk of stroke (CVA)
- Supplementing iron deficiency, iron in food: table & quantity
- Anemia: dizziness headache fatigue shortness of breath
