Home » Oncology » Causes and signs of iron deficiency in the female body. Serum iron in a blood test Decreased iron levels in the blood causes

Causes and signs of iron deficiency in the female body. Serum iron in a blood test Decreased iron levels in the blood causes

The presence of metals in the blood of any living creature is of great importance. The level of iron in the blood is an important indicator of healthy enrichment of tissues with oxygen and more. Its excess or deficiency can lead to serious problems in the functioning of the body. Today we will talk about the test for iron in the blood: how to properly prepare for it, evaluate the data obtained, and what to do if a deviation is diagnosed.

Functions of iron (Fe)

The total amount of iron in the body is approximately 4-5 grams. About 70% of the iron received from food is included in hemoglobin, that is, it is spent on providing tissues and organs with oxygen. This is why hemoglobin and iron levels are sometimes associated with each other, but hemoglobin and iron are not the same thing. About 10% of iron is needed for myoglobin, which is involved in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in muscle tissue. Approximately 20% is stored in the liver as a reserve. And only 0.1% combines with protein and circulates in the blood plasma.

Low iron in the blood can interfere with various processes in which this element takes part. Fe in the body is necessary for:

Transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide:
Production of fresh blood;
Metabolism and energy;
DNA production;
Maintaining immunity;
Hormone production thyroid gland;
Normal course of redox reactions;
Destruction of toxic substances in the liver.

Of course, this is not the entire list of iron’s functions in the body. Deviation of iron from the norm affects the condition of the skin, hair and nails. In order for all systems to work properly, it is important to regularly monitor iron levels.

An iron test is usually prescribed if any abnormalities have been detected in a general blood test or in the study of hemoglobin, red blood cells or hematocrit. The analysis is also used in the treatment of anemia, poisoning with iron-containing medications and suspected iron overload in the body.

Blood iron level: normal

The normal iron content in a person's blood is 7-31 µmol, however, much depends on the age and gender of the person being studied, and it also varies throughout the day. And if the influence of the time of day can be neutralized by donating blood only in the morning and on an empty stomach, then gender and age certainly need to be taken into account. Thus, the norm of iron in the blood for women is on average 10-21.5 µmol/l, for men – 14-25 µmol/l. Obviously, it is acceptable for the fair sex to have slightly less iron in the blood. This difference in iron levels in the blood of women and men is explained by menstrual peculiarities the weaker sex. With age, these differences disappear, and the norm for both sexes is almost equal.

Here are the optimal levels of iron in the blood for people of different ages in µmol/l:

Children under 1 month: 5-22;

Children from 1 month to 1 year: 5-22;

Children from 1 year to 4 years: 5-18;

Children 4-7 years old: 5-20;

Children 7-10 years old: 5-19;

Children 10-13 years old: 5-20;

Children 13-18 years old: 5-24;

Male gender, over 18 years old: 12-30;

Girls over 18 years old: 9-30.

Specific results may vary by laboratory, so it is better to focus on the data that is stated in your analysis as the “norm”. If the laboratory has not provided you with such data, you should ask about it yourself, because depending on the equipment and other factors, reference values may vary.

A blood test for iron involves a dry new test tube in which the blood is placed without a substance that prevents coagulation, because the iron sample is taken from the blood serum, and to obtain it it is necessary for the blood to be stratified.

Increased iron in the blood

Fe enters the body with food and is transported throughout all tissues in combination with protein. The process of iron entering tissues and reserve reserves is designed in such a way that excess iron is not absorbed, that is, ideally the body secretes as much iron from food as it needs. If there is a lot of iron in the blood, we can assume an accelerated breakdown of red blood cells, as a result of which all the included chemical elements are released into the blood. Increased iron levels in the blood may have the following causes:

Various shapes anemia.
Failure of the mechanism of iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, in which all the iron entering food is absorbed into the intestines. This phenomenon is called hemochromatosis.
An excess of iron in the body can be caused by taking medications containing iron or repeated transfusions of someone else's blood.
Poisoning with heavy metals, in particular lead.
Use of oral contraceptives.
Points 4 and 5 affect the process of hematopoiesis and especially the inclusion of iron in red blood cells, as a result of which an increased iron content in the blood may be observed.
Various liver lesions.

We should also talk about the symptoms of excess iron in the body. In addition to the fact that an excess of this element complicates the course of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, other signs of high iron levels in the blood may be observed:

Yellowish color of the skin, tongue and mucous membranes;
Increased liver volume;
Weakness;
Change in heart rate;
General pallor;
Weight loss;
Appearance age spots on the palms, in the armpits, on the site of old scars.

Based on symptoms alone, you should not draw a conclusion about the status of iron in the blood, since some symptoms of iron deficiency mean the same thing as high iron in the blood. The only reliable fact is the result of the analysis, submitted according to the rules in a verified medical laboratory. To receive reliable results In the morning before donating blood, you should avoid physical and emotional stress.

How to reduce iron in the blood?

The first thing you need to do is change your diet, because all iron enters our body only with food. For adult men, the daily requirement for iron is defined as 10 mg, for women - 20 mg, because they consume iron in large quantities during menstrual periods. Children should consume from 4 to 18 mg of iron per day, and expectant mothers in the second half of pregnancy and the first quarter after childbirth need 30-35 mg of this element.

It is recommended to add dairy products to your diet. You can avoid or regulate the increase in iron in the blood by including milk and dairy products in your diet. The fact is that they contain a large amount of calcium, which interferes with the normal absorption of iron; as a result, iron is not retained in the intestines and does not remain in excess.

But vitamins C and B12, on the contrary, improve the absorption of iron and can cause excess iron in the blood. We will talk in more detail below about where these vitamins are found.

Another effective way The fight against excess iron in the blood is associated not with nutrition, but with blood loss. The fact is that blood transfusion provokes a constant process of production of “new” blood, which turns out to be healthier and with a normal level of hemoglobin. Therefore, if according to the results you have increased iron in your biochemistry, it’s time to become a blood donor.

Another option is also associated with bleeding, but already involves the use of leeches. This method is called hirudotherapy and is used not only to normalize iron levels, but also for the overall health of the body.

Phlebotomy is used in cases where excess iron levels in the blood are not caused by serious diseases, but only by poor nutrition, and it is necessary to normalize the blood without using medications.

Low iron levels in the blood

Our body does not produce iron on its own; its entire supply enters tissues and cells only through nutrition. Therefore, the main cause of low iron levels in the blood is insufficient or improper nutrition. This could be illiterate vegetarianism or, on the contrary, indiscriminate consumption of fatty, iron-depleted foods. Switching to a dairy diet also contributes to Fe deficiency, because calcium, contained in large quantities in dairy products, reduces iron-binding capacity, as a result of which iron is simply not absorbed in the body.

The following phenomena also contribute to the reduction of iron:

High consumption of microelements caused by rapid growth of the body (for example, when a child is under 2 years of age, during puberty in adolescents and during pregnancy and breastfeeding).
Gastrointestinal diseases leading to iron deficiency anemia (for example, enteritis, gastritis, neoplasms, etc.).
If iron in the blood is low, the reasons may include inflammatory, purulent infections and malignant neoplasms, because they lead to the fact that cells begin to intensively absorb iron from the blood plasma, as a result of which its deficiency is observed in the blood.
Hemosiderosis.
Kidney pathologies.
Liver cancer or cirrhosis.
Low iron in the blood in women can be caused by prolonged bleeding during menstruation, bleeding through the nose, gums or after injury also provoke iron deficiency.
Other vitamins and microelements also affect the absorption of iron in the body. As we have already said, calcium in excess prevents the absorption of iron, while ascorbic acid, on the contrary, promotes it. Therefore, before increasing iron in the blood using various medications, you need to adjust your diet, otherwise the treatment may be ineffective.

At first, iron deficiency in the body occurs without any symptoms. Then, when the iron reserves in the liver are depleted, the person begins to chronically experience weakness, malaise, dizziness and migraines. Already at this stage, you should ask yourself what to do if there is not enough iron in the body.

The next stage of development of iron deficiency anemia is manifested by weakness in the legs, shortness of breath, painful sensations V chest, unusual taste preferences (for example, the desire to eat clay or chalk), etc.

How to increase iron in the blood?

There are few products with high content gland. In order to accurately bring your blood counts back to normal, you need to consume enough vitamins C, B12 and protein. The latter is necessary for the construction of hemoglobin, which will later become part of red blood cells and will work to enrich the body with oxygen.

Broccoli is an excellent food in this case, as it contains both iron and ascorbic acid. Dress your salads with lemon juice, and also include tomatoes, lentils, sauerkraut, bell pepper and avocado.

Low iron during pregnancy may be caused by a deficiency folic acid or vitamin B12. Expectant mothers are usually prescribed it as a food supplement in tablet form. In general, folic acid is found in sauerkraut and kefir. It has a positive effect on the intestinal flora and is even produced by the body itself.

Iron is found in foods such as buckwheat, mussels, apples, beets, fish, meat, eggs, carrots, apples, broccoli, beans, chickpeas, spinach, etc.

Before increasing iron levels in the blood, you must undergo an examination and consult a doctor. Perhaps the deviation is caused by much deeper and more serious processes compared to the diet.

Iron during pregnancy

It is extremely important for expectant mothers to get enough of this element from food. The fact is that the uterus, which is increasing in size, requires more and more blood circulation, and the volume of blood increases during pregnancy by 30-40%. As a result, even more iron is needed to meet the body's needs.

Doctors advise pregnant girls to consume about 30 mg of iron per day through food or vitamin supplements. Of course, expectant mothers should discuss all changes in diet with a doctor, and also listen to all advice and prescribed vitamins.

Between 8 and 22 weeks of pregnancy, the body reaches its maximum need for iron. This is due to the construction of new tissues and the need to enrich them with oxygen. At this time, the risk of iron deficiency is very high.

If you have any questions about the topic of the article or have your own ideas on how to lower iron in the blood or increase its content in the body, leave them in the comments below.

If the analysis shows that serum iron is low, the reason must be found out quickly and all efforts must be made to increase the level of iron in the blood. The fact is that low content of this microelement leads to weakened immunity, constant illnesses, and reduces muscle tone, causes digestive problems. In children, iron deficiency causes growth and development delays.

In addition, iron deficiency may indicate very dangerous diseases, for example, cancer. In this case, treatment with medications and other forms of therapy should be started as quickly as possible. Sometimes the cause is not related to the disease and is caused by insufficient intake of the element into the body along with food. In this case, the answer to the question of how to increase iron levels in the blood is simple: you need to adjust your diet. Application medicines in this case, it is usually not required (unless the doctor may prescribe the use of vitamin-mineral complexes).

It is believed that in the human body total number iron ranges from two to seven grams, which depends on the gender, weight and age of the person. In its pure form, this substance is not found in the body: it is very toxic, so when a trace element enters the blood, most of it is bound by proteins. The remaining part of the iron is instantly converted into hemosiderin or ferritin (protein compounds), which are deposited in the tissues in the form of reserves, and when the body experiences a deficiency in the microelement, it extracts them from there.

The body itself does not produce iron: this trace element comes with food and is absorbed in the intestines (this is why low amounts of the trace element are often associated with problems intestinal tract). Iron then ends up in plasma, the liquid part of the blood.

Then about eighty percent of the trace element is included in hemoglobin, which is integral part red blood cell Here, iron is responsible for adding oxygen and carbon dioxide to hemoglobin. This microelement attaches oxygen to itself in the lungs. Then, as part of hemoglobin, which is located inside red blood cells, it is sent to the cells, transfers oxygen to them, and attaches carbon dioxide to itself. After this, the red blood cell is sent to the lungs, where the iron atoms easily part with carbon dioxide.

It is interesting that iron acquires the ability to attach and detach gases only when it is part of hemoglobin. Other compounds that contain this microelement do not have this ability.

About ten percent of iron is part of myoglobin, which is found in myocardial muscle and skeletal muscles. Myoglobin binds oxygen and stores it. If the body begins to experience oxygen starvation, this gas is extracted from myoglobin, passes into the muscles and participates in further reactions. Therefore, when for some reason the blood supply to any part of the muscle is disrupted, the muscle still receives oxygen for some time.

Iron is also part of other substances, and together with them is involved in hematopoiesis, DNA production, connective tissue. Takes part in lipid metabolism, oxidative reactions, regulates the neutralization of poisons by the liver, and promotes energy metabolism. The thyroid gland needs this element for the synthesis of hormones that are involved in many metabolic processes. The role of iron during pregnancy is important: the baby’s body uses it to build its tissues.

It has long been noted that a lack of iron in the body negatively affects the functioning of the nervous system. And all because this element is involved in the transmission of signals between brain cells. This microelement also increases the body’s resistance to disease and relieves fatigue. Therefore, when it is lacking, a person often feels powerless.

How much microelement should there be?

In the male body, the reserves of this microelement are higher than in women, and range from 500 to 1.5 thousand mg. For women, this figure ranges from 300 to 1 thousand mg. At the same time, doctors claim that the vast majority of the population has iron reserves at a minimum. That is why during pregnancy, when the body requires iron in a huge number, there may be a deficiency of it, and doctors prescribe vitamin and mineral preparations for the purpose of prevention.

To find out if there is a lack of iron in the body, you need to do biochemical analysis blood. The material for the study is taken from a vein, then fibrinogen is removed from the plasma (so that the blood does not clot during the study), and serum is obtained. Such a sample is convenient to use when studying the composition of blood.

Thus, the norm of serum iron in the blood healthy person must correspond to the following values:

up to 1 year: 7.16 – 17.9 µmol/l;
from 1 to 14 years: 8.95 – 21.48 µmol/l;
in women over 14 years of age, including during pregnancy: 8.95 – 30.43 µmol/l;
in men after 14 years: 11.64 – 30.43 µmol/l.

IN female body its amount is less than that of men. In women of reproductive age, iron concentration depends on menstruation. In the second half of the cycle, the levels of this microelement reach their highest values; after menstruation, its level decreases significantly, which is associated with blood loss during menstruation.

During pregnancy, the iron content in the body should be at the same level as that of a non-pregnant woman.

But at the same time, the body’s need for this microelement increases, and therefore it is necessary to ensure that during pregnancy a sufficient amount of iron is supplied with food. This is due to the fact that not only the mother’s body needs this microelement, but also the baby’s. Therefore, at a certain stage of its development, it begins to very quickly take it in large quantities.

That is why the doctor recommends a special diet during pregnancy and also prescribes the use of special vitamin and mineral preparations. Thanks to this, the body is provided with all the necessary substances during pregnancy. After childbirth, the acute need for iron, as during pregnancy, disappears. But is it worth it to stop taking vitamin and mineral supplements, the doctor must say.

Symptoms of iron deficiency

When interpreting the results, it is very important to take into account what time of day the material was collected: the iron content in the body fluctuates greatly throughout the day. It is known that the concentration of iron in the morning is more high performance than in the evening.

You should also know that the concentration of iron in the blood depends on many reasons: on the functioning of the intestines, on the amount of microelement reserves stored in the spleen, bone marrow and other organs, as well as from the production and breakdown of hemoglobin in the body. Iron leaves the body in different ways: with feces, urine, and even in nails and hair.

That is why, if the body does not have enough iron, disorders are observed in the functioning of many organs and systems. Therefore, microelement deficiency is indicated by the following symptoms:

increased fatigue, feeling of weakness, fatigue;
increased heartbeat, shortness of breath;
irritability;
dizziness;
migraines;
cold fingers and toes;
pale skin, brittle nails, hair loss;
pain or inflammation of the tongue;
strong desire to move your legs (restless legs syndrome);
poor appetite, craving for unusual foods.

If you notice such symptoms, you must take a test to determine the level of iron in the blood. If the study shows its deficiency, the reason must be found out as quickly as possible (especially if we're talking about about pregnancy or a growing child’s body).

There is no need to be alarmed right away: in many situations, iron deficiency is caused by poor diet. For example, its deficiency is recorded in vegetarians, in people who adhere to a dairy diet (calcium interferes with the absorption of the microelement), as well as in those who are addicted to fatty foods. Also, the body has little iron during a fast. After correcting the diet and taking vitamin and mineral supplements, its concentration returns to normal.

A small amount of iron in the body may be due to the body’s increased need for this trace element. This primarily applies to small children under two years of age, adolescents, and women during pregnancy and lactation.

Sometimes iron deficiency can be triggered by stressful situations, weakened nervous system. In this case, you need to put it in order and avoid stress.

Pathological causes

Iron deficiency can cause various diseases. Among them:

Iron deficiency anemia caused by diseases gastrointestinal tract, which interfere with the normal absorption of microelements in the intestines. This could be gastritis, enteritis, enterocolitis, various tumors in the stomach and intestines, operations to remove part small intestine or stomach.
The presence of inflammation, purulent-septic and other infections.
Osteomyelitis (purulent infection affecting bone tissue).
Myocardial infarction.
An increased amount of iron-containing pigment hemosiderin (formed during the breakdown of hemoglobin or with intensive absorption of iron from the intestine).
Problem with the synthesis of the hormone erythropoietin in the kidneys due to chronic renal failure or other diseases of this organ.
Rheumatism.
Iron is excreted quickly in the urine due to nephrotic syndrome.
Bleeding of various types.
Enhanced hematopoiesis, which uses iron.
Cirrhosis.
Benign and oncological tumors, especially fast-growing ones.
Stagnation of bile in the biliary tract.
Deficiency of vitamin C, which promotes the absorption of iron.

Due to the fact that iron deficiency can be caused by various reasons, if a lack of a microelement is detected, the doctor will refer you for further examination. You need to go through it as quickly as possible, since among the diseases that cause iron deficiency in the blood, there are deadly ailments. And only then, according to the results of the analysis, will he prescribe treatment and prescribe the necessary medications.

The importance of diet

To increase iron in the blood, it is very important not only to take prescribed medical supplies, but also pay attention to your diet. A menu aimed at increasing iron levels in the blood should include the consumption of lean beef, lamb, veal, rabbit, fish, turkey or goose. Pork contains little trace element, so nutritionists do not recommend using it to increase iron. The liver, which is a hematopoietic organ, is well suited to increase this microelement in the blood. But it should be consumed in moderation, since it is also responsible for neutralizing toxins.

Buckwheat, oatmeal, beans, nuts, and oysters help increase iron in the blood. The diet should contain fresh vegetables and fruits, which contain not only iron, but also vitamin C, which promotes the absorption of this microelement.

It is important to understand that diet alone is not enough to increase iron in the blood if the problem is caused by illness. Even if the food contains the required amount of a microelement, this will not be enough if the body does not absorb it enough due to illness or there are problems due to which the microelement is consumed in increased quantities.

Therefore, it is very important to follow all the doctor’s instructions, take the medications prescribed by him, including following the dosage. Under no circumstances should you increase or decrease the dose of medications on your own.

Iron is an integral part of hemoglobin, which helps blood cells deliver oxygen to muscles, brain and all other organs. So it is quite logical that a lack of iron slows down many reactions in the body, along with lethargy, weakness, chills and general malaise.

Iron deficiency in a woman’s body is critical and seriously disrupts its functioning. The Iron Deficiency Epidemic is the Missing Link in Women's Fitness; When your iron levels plummet, your strength, endurance, and power will stop growing, no matter how hard you try. Heavy menstruation and hard training equally deplete iron stores. Some women suffer from chronic deficiency of this microelement - they lose more iron than they can get from food. In this case, it makes sense to choose effective vitamins with iron especially for women.

Iron deficiency in the body

Iron deficiency is detected using a blood test. In women and men, serum ferritin levels should be in the range of 50-150 ng/ml. To find out if your ferritin level is normal, take a general analysis blood. Many doctors mistakenly claim that the ideal serum ferritin level for women is 15 ng/ml, but this is not true. Women need the same amount of iron as men. A ferritin level below 30 ng/ml indicates a lack of iron in a woman’s body.

If you experience excessive fatigue and miss workouts, this does not necessarily mean that you lack willpower or are unable to withstand training loads. The reason may lie in iron deficiency in the body. Don't panic, it's easy to fix.

"I thought I was dying and I didn't care..."

I was cold, tearful and very tired. No energy drink could bring me out of this state. Not a single workout could cheer me up. Everything had the opposite effect. I lay in bed and wondered how others manage to be energetic so easily?

It was hard for me to do absolutely everything – stand, move, feel happy, even think. When my boyfriend (now husband) called and asked me to cook dinner, I didn’t know what to answer. It was too hard to make a decision. And I absolutely couldn’t go out for dinner. So I cried. I wanted to explain to him that I didn’t feel well, but I couldn’t understand what exactly was happening. I didn't have any pain, but I felt disgusting.

My arms and legs felt heavy with lead. I went to a group workout because the mini barbell felt too heavy. That same week, the nurse did not take my blood for donation because my iron level was clearly below normal.

Then the idea occurred to me that there must be a connection between these phenomena. I started taking vitamins with iron for women and after a few days I felt like normal person– determination and a feeling of happiness returned, strength and energy appeared. Despite the fact that the iron deficiency most likely remained, my health clearly improved.

However, I am not a doctor, and I do not recommend blindly taking supplements to replenish iron reserves in the body, without appropriate tests and consultation with a doctor. But I am an experimenter by nature and I will tell you that I had to reconsider my knowledge about hardware.

For many years I believed that proper nutrition A diet rich in spinach and red meat will be enough to avoid iron deficiency. But this turned out not to be the case. Lack of iron in the body in women is no joke, and food alone will not get rid of it. Read and try to learn from other people's mistakes.

What is the function of iron in the body?

It doesn't matter how much red meat you have in your diet. If you have a chronic iron deficiency, then you absolutely need to take vitamins with iron for women. If you run or lift, exercise hard, or have heavy periods, you likely won't be able to get enough iron from eating meat alone.

Of course, after eating another steak, you will feel better, but this will only be due to its taste, and not to the fact that the dish increased the level of iron in your blood. If the iron content in the body is chronically low, then to normalize it, you will have to regularly, like a drug addict, consume iron-containing food supplements.

But among men, iron deficiency is less common because they do not lose blood every month, unlike women. However, those at risk for iron deficiency include endurance athletes, male donors, and those who have been diagnosed with internal bleeding.

Even a slight iron deficiency leads to problems

Even if your iron levels are not low enough to cause anemia, even a small deficiency of this trace element can cause unwanted effects that you may not even be aware of.

Low iron levels cause:

craving for harmful products

Cold intolerance

Sleep that does not bring rest and depression

Dizziness and headaches

Fatigue and irritability

Hair loss

Muscle weakness

And this is just a short list of all the problems associated with iron deficiency in women. When my iron levels became too low, I began to experience bouts of momentary blackouts and dizziness when standing up, so much so that it was difficult to put the dumbbells down after a series of lunges in the tunnel. A primitive iron deficiency made my life a living hell.

Normal or optimal iron levels in women

To check the level of iron in the body, take a CBC (complete blood count) and a blood test for ferritin. Look at your serum ferritin levels.

Ferritin is a protein with which iron is transported to organs and tissues. Its value should be at least 30 ng/ml, but ideally around 50-150 ng/ml. Dr. George Juetersonke, a progressive osteopathic doctor, insists on these figures. In his opinion, anything below 30 ng/ml is too low. When do you refill your car's fuel? When is it completely used up and the car stops halfway? Or do you monitor the gauges and add fuel as needed? Most doctors won't tell you you're iron deficient until your car breaks down. Before your doctor recommends taking vitamins with iron, you may already be anemic.

You are an active modern woman, why wait for life to become unbearable if you can increase your iron levels while its blood levels are only slightly below normal?

Unfortunately, even today in a modern and developed society, we are faced with the problem of diagnosis. Most physicians will say that the normal serum ferritin level ranges from 15-150 ng/ml. So, if your level is 15 ng/ml "normal" according to doctors, but you feel lethargic, weak and drained, your doctor may diagnose you with something else...

When the test showed that my serum ferritin level was 18 ng/ml, the doctor advised that my iron levels were “moderate” and I needed to start taking iron supplements or iron vitamins for women as soon as possible. So my doctor began testing and monitoring my blood counts until my ferritin level reached about 80 ng/ml - five times higher than what most doctors consider sufficient.

By the way, most doctors consider the healthy ferritin range for men to be 50-150 ng/ml, while for women the norm is 15 ng/ml? Isn't it obvious stupidity? The body size and amount of muscle in men and women do not correspond to such a significant difference in numbers.

Does the female body really need much less iron? Hell no. Despite what doctors say, serum ferritin levels in both men and women should be in the range of 50-150 ng/ml. Even if the opinion of doctors differs from this standard, it is better to be at the upper limit of the norm than to suffer from a deficiency.

Iron content in foods or how to increase iron levels in the body?

Let's briefly look at the iron content in foods. The highest levels of iron are found in meat, liver, poultry, seafood, dark leafy vegetables such as spinach, legumes, beets, and actual human blood if you are a vampire or cannibal. And their combination with foods containing vitamin C improves the absorption of iron.

However, if your diet is low in iron, then the only way to maintain normal level Fe is a reception special drugs iron or vitamins with iron, especially if you have heavy periods or exercise intensely. I consider myself a meat eater, but five red meat meals a week does not save me from anemia. So taking an iron supplement is of great importance to me.

If your iron levels are extremely low, it may make sense to take a stronger supplement containing much more iron than the normal recommended daily allowance. Even taking large doses of iron, it may take several weeks to raise your iron levels to optimal levels. Having reached the desired level, the dosage can be reduced to maintenance.

Monitoring test results is important. Don't forget that excess iron can also lead to serious problems. One of the unpleasant side effects of iron supplements is constipation. Fortunately, there are special supplements without such effects. Taking magnesium supplements at night also eliminates this problem.

My advice: to solve problems with iron, contact a competent specialist, and if you haven’t found one yet, start by at least taking vitamins with iron.

Iron deficiency in women: depression or anemia?

In the United States, one in four women takes mood-stabilizing medications. Do a quarter of all women really suffer from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.? Undoubtedly, this is a consequence of biological problems, but if they are also a consequence of anemia or something similar, then by eradicating the cause, you can get rid of the debilitating symptoms.

Misdiagnosis is scary. So, if you are not sure whether you have anemia or not, and go to the doctor with the symptoms described above, then there is a chance that you are diagnosed with depression, chronic fatigue or something else. What if a few years ago, when I cried for no reason and felt apathetic most of the time, I had been prescribed antidepressants? Now would I have to deal with the side effects of the drug due to severe anemia? Through friends, relatives, acquaintances, look for a competent specialist.

The connection between iron problems and hypothyroidism

Thyroid hormones play a huge role in metabolism and hypothyroidism is a serious problem. What’s especially troubling is that decreased thyroid hormone production and low iron levels in the body are closely linked.

Doctors disagree on what lies ahead: Does decreased thyroid hormone production lead to iron deficiency or vice versa? Both opinions are true. My doctor told me that many women are diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland when in reality they simply suffer from iron deficiency. But there are those who claim that iron deficiency is a consequence of hypothyroidism. Probably both opinions are partly correct.

It's true that thyroid dysfunction (and all the problems that go with it) digestive system and bowel function) can interfere with the absorption of nutrients, making it impossible for a person to use the iron that a person gets from foods and dietary supplements.

Conversely, low iron levels can impair thyroid function. So, If you are going to take a general blood test, it is advisable to check the functioning of the thyroid gland. If possible, find a specialist who will help you understand these issues, but if the doctor does not clarify the situation, look for another specialist.

Take a blood test for iron levels

Find a doctor who will make you an active participant in solving the problem of iron deficiency, or understand the test results yourself. Be aware of what is happening with your health, because if your doctor's views are outdated, then it is not he who will suffer the consequences, but you.

A good doctor always strives to ensure that his patients treat their own bodies wisely, while a bad doctor keeps his patients in the dark. Remember that you can always get a blood test without a specific doctor's referral. If you suspect problems with iron, find out what tests you need to take and what numbers you need to pay attention to. published.

Dani Shugart

If you have any questions, please ask

In the female half of the population, a decrease in iron in the blood is observed more often than in the male half. According to studies conducted in America, about 11% of women are concerned about a decrease in its level. In order to maintain iron levels in the blood, up to 18 mcg of this microelement must be supplied daily with food. Iron is an essential trace element necessary for the harmonious and coordinated functioning of the human body. It performs many complex tasks: transport of oxygen, construction of protein molecules from amino acids, hormones, work of skeletal muscles, tissue respiration.

Causes of iron deficiency

The reasons for the fall and lack of iron are very different:

Decrease in its receipts

Insufficient absorption

Presence of pathological losses

In addition to the factors familiar to all people, women have additional costs associated with such issues as pregnancy, childbirth and lactation, bleeding during menstruation. About 25% of women who are not bothered by anything, in one menstrual cycle lose up to 80 ml of blood, and this is 40 mg of iron monthly.

Each of these reasons leads at an early stage to the occurrence of hidden iron deficiency, or latent, which does not manifest itself clinically, and later to anemia, in which the lack of iron in the body makes itself felt.

Among the main reasons for a decrease in iron in the blood in women it is worth noting:

Intense, abnormal uterine bleeding during menstruation.

Pregnancy and lactation, when maternal iron is used by not one, but two organisms. This is especially true for a second pregnancy if it occurs a short period of time after the first. Just imagine, 800 mg of iron is consumed in one pregnancy-childbirth-lactation cycle.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are in second place as a factor of low iron in women. Hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers and duodenum, erosion of the gastric mucosa, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, helminthic infestations are an incomplete list of conditions causing its deficiency.

Diseases of the urinary system: kidney pathology, urolithiasis, hemorrhagic cystitis.

Endometriosis, ovarian cysts.

Unhealthy diet: vegetarianism, avoidance of animal products.

Decreased gastric secretion. For men, this fact does not mean so much, because they are not worried about increased costs during pregnancy or lactation.

And folic acid, which improve absorption.

Excess calcium salts and vitamin C hypovitaminosis.

Lack of iron in the body symptoms in women

Symptoms of a lack of iron in a woman’s body are conventionally divided into two groups: anemic syndrome and sideropenic.

Anemia syndrome is characterized by: pallor of the skin and mucous membranes, weakness, fatigue, loss of interest in the environment, headaches, dizziness, low blood pressure, “fly spots” flashing before the eyes, shortness of breath, palpitations, fainting.

Sideropenia syndrome includes changes in the skin, nails, hair, muscle weakness that does not correspond to the degree of anemia, perversion of taste and smell. Often the skin on the hands and feet is dry, cracked, nails peel and break, and cracks appear in the corners of the mouth. The tongue becomes bright red, pain occurs in it - glossalgia.

Women with severe anemia experience discomfort due to frequent urination and bowel dysfunction, which are directly related to weakness of smooth muscles and dysfunction of the sphincters. The taste is distorted, you want to eat earth, chalk, coal, clay, sand, ice, raw dough, cereals and fresh meat. Predilections for strange aromas appear.

Many people say that they like the smell of kerosene, fuel oil, gasoline, acetone, and car exhaust fumes. The connection with iron deficiency and the occurrence of these features can be clearly seen, although the cause is not fully known. With other types of anemia, such phenomena are absent.

Blood test and norms

Blood is collected from a finger (capillary) and from a vein (venous). The first one is needed to carry out clinical analysis blood. In it, the specialist will see a decrease in hemoglobin, hematocrit, red blood cells, color index, and specific red blood cell indices. Venous blood necessary for biochemistry analysis and allows you to determine serum iron in the blood and the total iron-binding capacity of serum.

The rules for donating blood are general: blood from a vein is donated on an empty stomach, you can drink water before the test. Excluded physical activity, smoking and alcohol to avoid false results. The average completion time is 5-6 hours.

Depending on how much iron is reduced, three degrees of the disease are distinguished:

mild, hemoglobin is determined within 110-90 g/l.
medium-heavy - 90-70 g/l.
heavy - less than 70 g/l.

Treatment of iron deficiency anemia in women

A lack of iron in the body leads to many problems, so correction of its level is necessary. In the absence of therapy, iron deficiency quickly increases, hemoglobin progressively decreases. All this is accompanied by pronounced clinical manifestations. There are treatment standards that are followed all over the world.

In first place is drug treatment, which involves the use of special complexes of iron preparations. Today, two main groups are used, they include either divalent or trivalent iron. To quickly increase iron in the body, 100-300 mg in divalent form should be supplied per day.

For ease of use, drugs are produced in several forms: tablets, drops, syrups, suspensions. According to the instructions, it is necessary to take iron supplements during meals or immediately after. It is important to consider the effect of certain foods on iron absorption. Tannins in tea, milk and dairy products, and calcium salts reduce this process. Popular and effective drugs today include: Aktiferrin, Ferrum-Lek, Maltofer, MaltoferFol, Totema. Both inorganic compounds (ferrous sulfate) and organic (gluconate or polymaltosate) can be used. Organic compounds iron supplements are easier to tolerate and have fewer side effects.

The course of taking these drugs is from three to six months, it is very important to follow this rule. If, after a month from the start of treatment, the patient sees a good increase in hemoglobin and stops taking the medicine, the effect is lost almost immediately. This is due to the fact that iron only enters the blood, and all the depots of our body are still empty. When taking ferrous iron supplements, the following complications may develop: darkening of tooth enamel, abdominal pain, indigestion, loose stools.

Ferric iron preparations, hydroxide polymaltose complex, are better tolerated and have no side effects. For this reason, they are positioned as the gold standard of therapy. But if you need to get a quick answer, experts prefer divalent drugs.
Forms have been created for intramuscular and intravenous administration. They are prescribed in cases where the ineffectiveness of taking drugs by mouth and in severe cases of anemia has been proven.

How to increase iron levels in the blood through diet? Treating anemia with food alone is not enough! But adjusting your diet is very important. All iron in foods is found in two forms - heme and non-heme. The heme form of iron is absorbed better by the body, up to 80%. It is recommended to include a sufficient amount of meat in the diet. Plant products, cereals, pomegranates, apples, and the high non-heme iron they contain, is poorly absorbed, less than 20%. Eating them even in very large quantities will not have any effect.

Methods for preventing iron deficiency.

According to WHO statistics, if the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in a country exceeds 40%, fortification is recommended, which means fortifying some food products with iron. Another, more effective method is called supplementation. It means taking a substance from the outside. A striking example: taking iron supplements by pregnant and lactating women in preventive dosages.

If you find yourself with the signs of iron deficiency described above, you need to consult a doctor. This may be the attending physician or a hematologist - a specialist who deals with diseases of the hematopoietic system, a hematologist. Be that as it may, self-medication is not indicated. It is necessary to conduct an examination that will allow both to determine the causes of iron deficiency, and to determine a set of measures that will help to quickly increase it, prescribe the correct therapy and determine the required period of treatment. Remember, iron deficiency anemia, whatever its cause, is a disease that can be easily corrected; the main thing is to follow all the recommendations of a specialist.

Iron is a mineral that plays a vital role in our body, ensuring the transport of oxygen from red blood cells to all cells of the body.

This mineral is an essential component of hemoglobin, a specific protein in human blood.

If your body experiences iron deficiency, it is not able to produce the required number of red blood cells capable of carrying oxygen. As a result, the level of hemoglobin in the blood decreases and iron deficiency anemia.

If you find yourself with the symptoms listed below, this is a reason to check the level of iron in your body.

Chronic fatigue. This symptom occurs because the body experiences a lack of oxygen in the cells and this is reflected in your energy levels. People in this condition often experience weakness and an inability to concentrate. Even though chronic fatigue may be a sign of other diseases, this symptom should prompt you to check the level of hemoglobin in your blood.
Frequent colds . Iron plays a key role in our health immune system. Insufficient oxygen transport will affect the functioning of the spleen, which is a natural filter against bacteria that enter our body. Due to lack of oxygen, the formation of white blood cells, leukocytes, whose purpose is to fight infections, will be inhibited.
Excessive hair loss. Losing about 100 hairs per day is considered normal. If you notice a noticeably larger amount of hair on your comb, you should check your iron levels in your blood.
Pallor. Hemoglobin gives the skin a pinkish tint, so pale skin may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.
Enlarged tongue. Lack of oxygen causes the body's muscles to increase in volume. However, the only muscle where you can notice this sign is the tongue. Cracks in the corners of the mouth are also common in people with iron deficiency.
Pica. People with insufficient iron stores in the body sometimes have a craving for eating non-food substances, such as earth, clay or chalk.
Fast and irregular heartbeat. With anemia, the heart pumps more blood through itself to compensate for low oxygen levels.

The norm of iron and the reasons for its deficiency in the human body

Women of childbearing age are most at risk for iron deficiency due to blood loss during menstruation. Women aged 18 to 50 years are recommended to consume 18 mg of iron per day.

Pregnant women should consume 27 mg per day. Adult men need about 8 mg of iron per day.

There are several reasons why a person may be iron deficient:

Poor nutrition. Scientists distinguish between two types of iron: heme iron, obtained from animal sources (beef, liver, oysters), and non-heme iron, obtained from plants (buckwheat, legumes, spinach). Heme iron is best absorbed by our body. Long-term consumption of foods low in heme iron contributes to lower levels of this mineral in the body.
Pregnancy. Iron is required for fetal development, so increased iron intake is recommended for pregnant women.
Heavy menstrual bleeding in women. Normally, menstruation lasts 4-5 days and the amount of blood lost is approximately 2-3 tablespoons.
Internal bleeding. Hidden internal bleeding can be caused by an ulcer, polyps or intestinal cancer. Frequent use of aspirin can also lead to stomach bleeding.
Problems with iron absorption. Even if your diet is rich in iron, certain diseases can impair its absorption. These include, for example, celiac disease or gastric bypass surgery.

How to diagnose iron deficiency?

To determine the iron content, a detailed blood test is used, which will show the quantitative content of hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, red and white blood cells.

Diagnosis of anemia is based on the size of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit, which is determined percentage erythrocytes in the blood. Normal hematocrit is 34.9-44.5% for women and 38.8-50% for men.

An adequate hemoglobin level corresponds to 120-155 g/l for women and 135-175 g/l for men. The size and color of red blood cells are determined under a microscope, and pale red blood cells will also indicate iron deficiency.

To complete the diagnosis, the doctor can find out ferritin and transferrin content in the blood.

Transferrin is a protein that transports iron; its quantity shows the body’s ability to bind iron atoms for their subsequent transfer to organs.

How to treat iron deficiency in the body?

If you suspect yourself iron deficiency anemia, you should resort to the help of official medicine. Self-diagnosis and self-medication can cause the opposite effect - excess iron in the blood, which contributes to constipation and liver damage. To eliminate anemia, the following steps are usually taken:

Taking iron supplements. If possible, take iron tablets on an empty stomach to help your body absorb it better. Long-term iron supplementation over several months may be required, and side effects: constipation and black stools.
Diet with increased intake of iron-containing foods: red meat, nuts, spinach. Taking vitamin C at the same time will help the body absorb iron more actively. Add citrus fruits to your diet.
Treatment of bleeding. If iron deficiency is caused by bleeding, internal or excessive menstrual bleeding, then iron supplements are of no use. You need to seek help from a doctor.