Iron Deficiency

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

• Angina
• Heart attack
• Spleen enlargement
• Liver disease

Anaemia can also be caused by:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Folic acid deficiency
• Other types of  Anaemia

This condition can lead to:

• Prurigo Nodularis
• Restless leg syndrome

If have any of these conditions one should have a test for celiac disease:

• Irritable bowel syndrome (and not previously tested for celiac disease);
• Unexplained anaemia:
  • Iron
  • Vitamin B12
  • Folate
• Type 1 diabetes
• Autoimmune thyroid disease

Iron rich foods

Dietary iron exists in two forms: haem iron (i.e. iron in haemoglobin), found in meat, and non-haem iron (mainly in the form of iron salts), found in grains, fruit and vegetables.

• Meat:
  • Liver and kidney are the richest sources of haem iron (10mg/100g) followed by red meat (2-3mg/100g), chicken and turkey (0.5-1.0mg/100g) and fish (0.5-1mg/100g).

• Whole­meal bread (2mg/two slices) and cereals with extra iron [fortified break­fast cereals (2-9mg/bowl)]
• Dark-green leafy vegetables including spinach, watercress and curly kale  (1.5mg/100g)
• Pulses (beans, lentils and peas)- (2-3mg/serving).
• Nuts and dried fruit (1-2mg/small handful).
• Blackberries and blackcur­rants (1mg/ 100g).

please note non-haem iron absorption can vary significantly hence it is important for everyone (particularly those who do not eat red meat) to consume a dietary source of vitamin C with as many meals and snacks as possible.

Reduce the following as it affects iron absorption particularly non-haem forms:

• Coffee
• Milk and dairy
• Tea
• Food with high levels of phytic acid as this can reduce one absorbing iron from other foods and iron medication.

Pregnancy

• In preg­nancy, there is evidence to suggest that iron deficiency anaemia is associated with prema­ture births, low birth weight and increased perinatal mortality.

Medication Tips

• The main forms are ferrous sulphate and other ferrous salts, such as the fumarate and the gluconate, they have equivalent rates of absorption, differing mainly in the amount of elemental iron released.
• Slow release and enteric coated preparations are promoted on the basis of fewer side effects and once daily administration but they dissolve slowly and can bypass the proximal duodenum into an area of the gut where absorption is poor.

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Thalassemia Trait

• A disorder of haemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells. This results in mild anaemia and very small red blood cells (called microcytosis).
• This might be noticeable if one take iron supplements correctly and is not improving one’s condition.

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice