IRON AND OXYGEN
Iron is an essential trace mineral needed to make hemoglobin, the part of our red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout our bodies. Without enough iron, the body makes fewer red blood cells resulting in less hemoglobin which in turn causes less oxygen to be transported in the body, a condition known as anemia. Anemic individuals don’t have an adequate supply of oxygen in their body, which leaves them tired, pale, and short of breath.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Iron deficiency is the most common known form of nutritional deficiency. Its prevalence is highest among young children and women of childbearing age (particularly pregnant women). In children, iron deficiency causes developmental delays and behavioral disturbances, and in pregnant women, it increases the risk for a preterm delivery and delivering a low-birthweight baby.”

ANEMIA: CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
The most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is not getting enough iron in your diet. This is especially true of people who need a lot of iron, such as small children, teens, and pregnant women. Women with heavy menstrual bleeding are also at a higher risk of becoming anemic.

Another more serious cause of low iron levels is internal bleeding and may be caused by problems such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, or cancer. This bleeding can also happen with regular aspirin use. Internal bleeding is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in men and women after menopause. Low iron levels may also be from poor iron absorption which could indicate problems with the stomach or small intestine. It’s important to see your doctor if you think you have anemia to find out what is causing your condition. It’s also important not to take iron pills without talking with your doctor as this may delay the diagnosis of a serious health condition or cause you to have an iron overload.

At first, any symptoms of anemia may go unnoticed as they develop slowly over a period of time. However, as your condition worsens you may experience:

• Fatigue

• Feeling dizzy

• Irritability

• Headaches

• Looking very pale

• Shortness of breath

• Trouble concentrating

Babies and small children who have anemia may:

• Be fussy.

• Have a short attention span.

• Grow more slowly than normal.

• Develop skills, such as walking and talking, later than normal.

It’s important that children with anemia be treated so that mental and behavior problems do not last long.

PREVENTING ANEMIA
You can prevent anemia by eating the right amount of iron every day. Iron-rich foods include meats (especially beef liver), eggs, whole-grain or iron-fortified foods, peas, beans, oatmeal, and prunes.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the following to develop and maintain normal iron levels in infants and young children:

• Breast-feed infants if possible. Breast-feed your baby for at least a year or for as long after a year as you and your child desire.

• If you do not breast-feed or if you only partially breast-feed, feed your baby iron-fortified formulas.

• After 6 months of age, in addition to breast milk or iron-supplemented formula, a child needs 2 to 3 servings of iron-rich foods a day. Iron-fortified cereals are a good source.

• Use iron-fortified foods for infants when they are no longer breast-feeding.

• Do not give cow’s milk or goat’s milk to children younger than 12 months of age. Children 1 to 5 years old should drink no more than 24fl oz. a day of these milks, which are low in iron.

Taking vitamin C with your food or iron supplement will allow for better absorption of the iron content while foods or beverages high in caffeine, calcium, and fiber will reduce iron absorption and should be avoided 2 hours before and 2 hours afterward.

IRON OVERLOAD
Iron overload, or hemochromatosis, is a condition that occurs when too much iron builds up in the body. Small amounts of iron are normally stored in the liver and heart, but excess iron over time can eventually damage these organs and cause serious health problems. Excessive iron in the body leads to a weakened immune system and can cause diabetes, heart failure, osteoarthritis, and liver cancer.

Hemochromatosis affects men five times more often than it does women. Because women lose blood through menstruation, women are unlikely to show signs of iron overload until 10 or more years after menopause.

Symptoms of hemochromatosis include:

• Liver disease

• Joint pain

• Fatigue

• Unexplained weight loss

• Skin with a bronze or gray color

• Abdominal pain

• Loss of sexual desire

Too often, people with iron overload don’t know they have it until they have serious health problems. The only way to know is to get tested for it. An iron level that continues to be over 1000 mcg/L (micrograms per liter) means you have iron overload. A simple blood test can tell you your iron level.

References:
1.American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Breastfeeding (2005). Breastfeeding and the use of human milk. Pediatrics, 115(2): 496–506.
2.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1998). Recommendations to prevent and control iron deficiency in the United States. MMWR, 47(RR-3): 1–29

Contributing Editor: Becky Bullard

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Tagged as: minerals, Nutrition