Impact of Iron Deficiency in Women in Different Ages and Know How to Handle it

Iron is a mineral that is found in hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. If your body does not have enough iron, it will not receive enough oxygen, and your cells (which are powered by oxygen) will not function properly.

Iron serves several functions in our bodies:

• transports oxygen
• generates energy and aids in cell metabolism
• supports a healthy immune system, thereby preventing infection
• aids in brain development
• improves cognition and
• aids in concentration and mental performance.

Iron also has an effect on toddlers’ and children’s social behavior. Anemia and low iron levels in red blood cells are caused by iron deficiency in our bodies.

A healthy digestive system, adequate amounts of certain nutrients, specific enzymes, hormones, and proteins that bind with and transport nutrients into the bloodstream are all required before iron can be absorbed. A sufficient amount of stomach acid is also required. The absence of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is known as achlorhydria. Nutrients such as iron cannot be absorbed when the stomach is not acidic enough. Other nutrients that cannot be absorbed without adequate stomach acid include vitamin B12 and folate. Anemia can be caused by a lack of either of these B vitamins.

Certain medications, such as antacids and acid blockers, can cause malabsorption problems. Other causes include bowel diseases like celeriac sprue, Crohn’s disease, or colitis, surgical removal of portions of the stomach or small intestine, and gastric infections like Helicobacter or infections that cause chronic diarrhea like shigellosis, Whipple’s disease, or G. lamblia (giardiasis).

If you are chronically or severely iron deficient, you may experience the following side effects:

• shortness of breath
• a pale complexion
• headaches
• dizziness
• fingernails that are brittle
• hands and feet are frosty
• recurring illness
• Syndrome of restless legs
• a desire to consume ice, clay, dirt, chalk, or paper (a condition called pica)
• an irregular heartbeat and palpitations in the heart

Why you might be Iron-deficiency

Your doctor will draw blood to measure your hemoglobin levels in order to test for iron deficiency. For women, the normal hemoglobin range is 12 to 15 grams per deciliter. It ranges from 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter for men. If your blood test results are below the normal range, your doctor may order an ultrasound, endoscopy, or colonoscopy to look for internal bleeding. If that isn’t the case, there are a few other reasons you might be iron deficient:

There are underlying digestive issues. If you have untreated Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or other digestive problems, your body may not absorb nutrients properly. Crohn’s disease can also cause digestive bleeding, which can lead to iron deficiency. Consult your doctor if you have frequent constipation, bloating, stomach pains, or loose stools.
You’re expecting a child. Your body requires twice as much iron to support a growing baby, so if you don’t get enough iron, you may become deficient. Iron supplements are frequently recommended for pregnant women. If you’re pregnant, follow your doctor’s or midwife’s advice.
You’re having your period. Menstruating women lose blood every month, so it’s not uncommon for them to be slightly anemic, especially if they have heavier menstrual periods.

You’re having your period. Menstruating women lose blood every month, so it’s not uncommon for them to be slightly anemic, especially if they have heavier menstrual periods.

You are not eating the proper foods. If you don’t eat meat, your body may not be getting enough iron. Although plant sources of iron are abundant (such as spinach and legumes), this type of iron, known as non-heme iron, is not as easily absorbed by the body as iron derived from meat and fish, known as heme iron.
You are suffering from a genetic form of anemia. Some anemia, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, are inherited. Genetic forms of anemia may necessitate long-term management under the supervision of a doctor.

Impact of Iron deficiency in pregnant women

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, with a significant impact on global health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 41.8 percent of pregnant women worldwide are anemic. Iron deficiency is thought to be responsible for at least half of the anemia burden. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is now a raging problem in developing countries that must be addressed immediately.

Iron binds to Hemoglobin (Heme + Globin), a protein that transports oxygen to our cells, tissues, and organs. The majority of the iron in our bodies is found in Hemoglobin, which is found in RBCs.

A pregnant woman requires twice as much iron as a non-pregnant woman. This is due to the fact that a mother’s body requires iron to produce blood in order to supply the growing fetus (baby). If the mother’s body does not have enough iron stores or does not get enough iron through her diet, she is more likely to develop IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA (IDA). In this case, a mother will not have enough healthy Red Blood Cells (RBCs) to transport enough oxygen to the fetus. Let’s take a look at some of the effects of iron deficiency during pregnancy.

• Increases your chances of having a premature birth (preterm birth)
• A low birth weight
• Puerperal sepsis
• Postpartum depression
• A weakened mother’s immune system
• Some studies also show an increased risk of infant death immediately before or after birth

One of the leading causes of anemia in infants and young children is maternal iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. This could be because lower levels of iron stores can last for up to a year. Breastfeeding will not be beneficial if the mother is iron deficient. Iron levels in high-risk infants should be closely monitored and supplemented, as iron levels in breast milk decrease as lactation progresses.

Impact of Iron deficiency in elder women

Older people (male or female) are less likely to accumulate excess iron from a healthy diet, moderate supplementation, or alcohol consumption. If they abuse alcohol, consume excessive amounts of nicotine products (to quit smoking), are on hormone replacement therapy, have B12 deficiencies, or are receiving repeated blood transfusions, this age group may have toxic levels of iron in their organs and glands.

Although iron is necessary for a healthy lifestyle, too much iron can overwhelm the body’s natural storage capacity, resulting in oxidative stress, tissue damage, and premature ageing. When combined with other risk factors such as obesity, a family history of diabetes or heart disease, insufficient consumption of antioxidants (fruits and vegetables), hormone replacement therapy, unhealthy cholesterol levels, smoking and regular alcohol consumption, and for women who no longer menstruate, iron is especially dangerous and can catalyze these processes even in small amounts (less than a few extra grammes).

Foods help you to absorb more Iron

If you’re having troubling symptoms, it’s always best to see your doctor first, whether in person or virtually. Here are some other ways to boost your iron levels:

Polyphenols should not be consumed with iron-rich meals. Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in foods such as dark chocolate, red wine, berries, coffee, green tea, turmeric, and others. They’re very healthy—they’re high in antioxidants, and you should eat a lot of them—but studies show that if you combine polyphenols with non-heme (plant-sourced) iron, they can bind to haemoglobin and inhibit iron absorption. You don’t need to worry about this if you aren’t iron deficient, but if you are, try eating iron-rich meals two hours after eating or drinking polyphenols.

Consume vitamin C in conjunction with iron. Vitamin C-rich foods like oranges and lemons can help increase iron absorption, which is why doctors often recommend taking iron supplements with a glass of orange juice.

Consider taking a supplement. While iron supplements should not be used in place of iron-rich foods, they can be used in conjunction with a healthy diet.
If you’re a vegan, increase your intake of iron-rich plant foods. Look for iron-enriched foods and try to get more iron from plant sources, such as spinach, lentils, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, and fortified cereals.

Impact of excess Iron in adult women

Among the diseases and conditions that can cause an excess of iron in adult women are:

• Menstrual irregularities
• Type I (classic) hemochromatosis caused by HFE mutations in white females; four rarer non-HFE related diseases include type 2 (A and B) hemochromatosis (juvenile hemochromatosis onset before age 30), type 3 hemochromatosis (transferrin receptor 2 hemochromatosis), type 4 (A and B) hemochromatosis (ferroportin disease), and a (hypo) ceruloplasminemia
• Genetic iron loading in non-whites: not fully understood, but mutations in genes that regulate hepcidin, transferrin receptor 2 or the ferroportin gene are suspected (Note: these mutations may also occur in white females as modifiers of HFE).

Final words

When a woman’s period stops, she is at risk of consuming too much iron (amenorrhea). Menopause, hysterectomy, birth control pills, and hereditary hemochromatosis can all cause period loss (HHC). HHC is caused by high or toxic levels of iron in the body’s tissues, resulting in impaired organ function, organ failure, or death. Excess iron is linked to premature heart attacks, diabetes, liver disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and hormonal imbalances.