Iron deficiency, or sideropaenia, is the state in which a body lacks enough iron to supply its needs. Iron is present in all cells in the human body and has several vital functions, such as carrying oxygen to the tissues from the lungs as a key component of the haemoglobin protein, acting as a transport medium for electrons within the cells in the form of cytochromes, and facilitating oxygen enzyme reactions in various tissues. Too little iron can interfere with these vital functions and lead to morbidity and death.
Symptoms
Symptoms of iron deficiency are not unique to iron deficiency. Iron is needed for many enzymes to function normally, so a wide range of symptoms may eventually emerge, either as the secondary result of the anemia, or as other primary results of iron deficiency. Symptoms include:
- fatigue
- dizziness/lightheadedness
- pallor
- hair loss
- twitches
- weakness
- pica
- brittle or grooved nails
- hair thinning
- Plummer–Vinson syndrome: painful atrophy of the mucous membrane covering the tongue, the pharynx and the oesophagus
Causes
- blood loss
- inadequate intake
- malabsorption
- inflammation
Treatment
Upon diagnosis, the condition can be treated with iron supplements. The choice of supplement will depend upon both the severity of the condition, the required speed of improvement and the likelihood of treatment being effective
Mild iron deficiency can be prevented or corrected by eating iron-rich foods and by cooking in an iron skillet.
