Common causes of iron deficiency include not getting enough iron in your diet, chronic blood loss, pregnancy and vigorous exercise. Some people become iron deficient if they are unable to absorb iron. Iron deficiency can be treated by adding iron-rich foods to the diet.
What causes iron levels to drop?
Slow, chronic blood loss within the body — such as from a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp or colorectal cancer — can cause iron deficiency anemia. Gastrointestinal bleeding can result from regular use of some over-the-counter pain relievers, especially aspirin. A lack of iron in your diet.
What blocks the absorption of iron?
Polyphenols
Inhibitors of iron absorption include phytate, which is a compound found in plant-based diets that demonstrate a dose-dependent effect on iron absorption. Polyphenols are found in black and herbal tea, coffee, wine, legumes, cereals, fruit, and vegetables and have been demonstrated to inhibit iron absorption.
What is the most common cause of iron deficiency?
What is the most common cause of iron-deficiency anemia? Losing blood is the most common reason people develop iron-deficiency anemia. Some common reasons include: Bleeding in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which may cause bright red blood, or dark, tarry or sticky appearing stool.
What can deplete iron stores quickly?
Menstruation; blood donation; internal or external injuries; parasitic infections; or any disorder that results in chronic blood loss can lead to iron depletion.
Why is my body not storing iron?
Malabsorption is when your body can’t absorb iron from food, and is another possible cause of iron deficiency anaemia. This may happen if you have coeliac disease, a common digestive condition where a person has an adverse reaction to gluten, or surgery to remove all or part of your stomach (gastrectomy).
What are the 3 main causes of anemia?
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Anemia has three main causes: blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, and high rates of red blood cell destruction.
Does vitamin D reduce iron absorption?
Vitamin D is essential to absorb iron. Therefore an iron deficiency may indicate low vitamin D levels in your body.
What foods decrease iron levels?
Grains, beans, nuts, and seeds
All grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts contain phytic acid, or phytate, which reduces iron absorption. Eating foods high in phytates, such as beans, nuts, and whole grains, reduces the absorption of nonheme iron from plant foods. As a result, it may reduce total iron levels in the body.
How do you maximize iron absorption?
Take vitamin C with your source of iron.
Vitamin C increases absorption of both heme and non-heme iron absorption. Four ounces (1/2 cup) of orange juice is enough to increase iron absorption. Other sources of vitamin C include citrus fruit, fresh bell peppers, strawberries, cantaloupe, and fresh broccoli.
What drink is high in iron?
A. Juices like prune juice, beetroot juice, pumpkin juice and spinach juice are rich plant-based iron sources. They are also a powerhouse of various vitamins and minerals, which increase your body’s healthy iron levels.
What is the difference between iron deficiency and anemia?
Iron deficiency (ID) is defined as the decrease of the total content of iron in the body. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) occurs when ID is sufficiently severe to reduce erythropoiesis.
What are the symptoms of low iron in a woman?
Common symptoms include fatigue, palenes, shortness of breath, and dry or damaged hair and skin. If you think you have symptoms of iron deficiency, talk with a doctor. Self-diagnosing is not recommended.
Does caffeine deplete iron?
Coffee and Caffeine Can Inhibit Iron Absorption
Several studies have found that coffee and other caffeinated drinks can reduce iron absorption. One study found that drinking a cup of coffee with a hamburger meal reduced iron absorption by 39%.
Does magnesium deplete iron?
An in vitro study that examined the interaction between iron and antacids, including magnesium oxide, revealed that magnesium oxide can cause iron malabsorption by decreased pH and formation of macromolecular polymer, even in the case of sodium ferrous citrate [10].
Can stress deplete iron levels?
Iron’s primary role in the body is in the red blood cells that help carry oxygen. A lack of iron causes fatigue, shortness of breath, and thinning hair. Excessive stress has been shown to deplete iron levels. Women, children, and vegetarians are particularly at risk for iron depletion caused by stress.
What can cause low iron absorption?
Most of the iron taken in by foods is absorbed in the upper small intestine. Any abnormalities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract could alter iron absorption and result in iron-deficiency anemia. Surgery or medications that stop stomach acid production will also decrease iron absorption.
Can autoimmune cause iron deficiency?
Anemia of chronic disease happens when you have an autoimmune disease or other illness lasts longer than three months and that causes inflammation. Chronic inflammation can affect your body’s ability to use iron needed to make enough red blood cells. Anemia happens when you don’t have enough red blood cells.
What diseases cause low ferritin?
Hypoferritinemia caused by decreased iron intake, as part of the general poor diet, or due to low gastrointestinal absorption that happens to postbariatric surgery. It also happens in Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and celiac disease, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, peptic ulcer, menorrhagia, and hematuria.
What foods to avoid if you are anemic?
Foods to avoid
- tea and coffee.
- milk and some dairy products.
- foods that contain tannins, such as grapes, corn, and sorghum.
- foods that contain phytates or phytic acid, such as brown rice and whole-grain wheat products.
- foods that contain oxalic acid, such as peanuts, parsley, and chocolate.
Does anemia cause weight gain?
Iron-deficient people experience low energy levels and sudden weight gain because of an underactive thyroid gland.