What is Iron? Iron is a micronutrient that you can get from the food you eat. According to the National Institutes of Health, it's a mineral the body needs to grow and develop. The body also uses it to produce haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells. It transports oxygen from the lungs to the different parts of the body. It also carries a protein called myoglobin which provides oxygen to your muscles. Many people need help getting enough iron. However, some are more likely than others to have iron deficiency, such as: Teenage girls and women having heavy periods Pregnant women Infants who are premature or have low-birth-weight Frequent blood donors People who have cancer, heart failure, or gastrointestinal disorder Effects of Iron on Health Many scientists have been studying iron and its effects on health. Its most crucial role is preventing iron deficiency anaemia and other health problems that may result from it. Here are different ways in which iron can affect your health: Pregnant women Pregnant women need more iron for themselves and their growing babies as the amount of blood in their bodies increases. Insufficient iron can lead to anaemia and increase her baby's own risk of low iron levels. In some cases, she'll experience premature birth. Further, low iron can also affect the brain development of her child. Pregnant and breastfeeding women can undergo a home anaemia test and visit their healthcare provider for an iron supplement or necessary treatment. Infants and toddlers Infants and toddlers are also at risk of iron deficiency anaemia which can cause delayed psychological and social development. It can also lead to a poor attention span. Full-term infants must eat solid foods rich in iron and drink iron-fortified formula to increase their iron levels. But you must be careful not to supplement too much iron in Infants and toddlers because iron poisoning is a real threat that can happen quickly if you give kids adult-level supplements. Vegetarians According to a 2018 study, vegetarians have lower iron stores than non-vegetarians. It's highly recommended that they include more iron-rich plants and less meat. However, the researchers suggest that vegetarians and non-vegetarians control their iron status because those with high iron stores are at risk of non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes. Frequent blood donors Did you know that frequently donating blood can deplete iron stores? Frequent blood donors are more at risk of acquiring anaemia because of lower haemoglobin. What is Iron Deficiency Anaemeia? So, what happens if you don't have enough iron? You won't feel the symptoms of short-term deficiency because the body will use iron stored in the muscles, bone marrow, spleen, and liver. However, once the stored iron becomes low, iron deficiency anaemia occurs. You'll have more deficient red blood cells with less haemoglobin. When this happens, the blood will carry less oxygen from the lungs to the whole body. Iron deficiency anaemia has many symptoms, such as: Lack of energy or tiredness Concentration and memory problems Extreme weakness Paleness of skin Chest pain Irregular heartbeat Dizziness or light-headedness Soreness of tongue Brittle nails Cold hands and feet Palpitations Poor appetite These symptoms are sometimes subtle and hardly noticeable unless you regularly take an iron test at home to check your iron levels. [TEST] Common Causes of Iron Deficiency Anaemia There are many reasons for your iron levels to decrease. Here are some of them: Blood loss This is a common cause of low iron levels among women with heavy periods because they lose much blood during menstruation. Another is internal blood loss, such as those caused by a hiatal hernia, colon polyp, peptic ulcer, or colorectal cancer. It can also be due to gastrointestinal bleeding caused by regular intake of pain relievers like aspirin. Also, some pregnant women are at risk of severe blood loss when giving birth and must need a blood transfusion. Less iron in your diet Iron is best obtained from the food you eat. However, if you consume food that contains too little iron, it can lead to iron deficiency. Poor iron absorption Did you know that iron from your food gets absorbed into your bloodstream in the small intestine? This is why an intestinal disorder can affect the absorption of nutrients, including iron, from digested food. Absorption of nutrients is also affected if a part of your small intestine has been removed surgically. Pregnancy Pregnant women experience an increase in their blood volume, which causes them to use up their iron stores. Also, they must provide haemoglobin for their growing foetus. These make them at risk of iron deficiency anaemia. How to Test Your Iron Levels A home anaemia test is the most practical and convenient way to test your iron levels. Vitall's Anaemia Home Test Kit is a bodily function test that accurately assesses iron levels, blood cells, and B vitamins. This hassle-free test involves collecting a blood sample using a finger-prick blood home test kit you can do at home. You can also have a home nurse visit or a clinic visit. Once Vitall has your blood sample, it will be analysed by healthcare professionals in an accredited laboratory. Your test results will usually be ready within 24 hours. Treatments for Iron Deficiency Anaemia There are many treatments available for low iron levels. To start, your doctor may recommend iron supplements to boost iron levels. It's effective and rarely causes long-term health problems. However, your doctor must monitor you every few months to check for an improvement in your iron levels. The best way to treat anaemia is to know its underlying cause. Shifting to an iron-rich diet is one way to ensure your iron levels remain normal. Here are some of the iron-rich foods to include in your diet: Green leafy vegetable Brown rice Fish Beans Tofu Iron-fortified bread and cereals White and red meat Dried fruits Eggs Organ meats Always remember to include foods from the major food groups, too. Vitamin C-rich food and drinks must be present to help your body absorb iron. Here are some of them: Green leafy vegetables Broccoli Kiwi Strawberries Tomatoes Mandarin Oranges Melons Tangerines Peppers On the other hand, consume less of the following because they can make it harder for you to absorb iron: Tea and coffee. Though they're good for your health, those with anaemia must limit their intake of these beverages because they contain tannins, which interfere with iron absorption. Calcium-rich food. People with anaemia must restrict consuming calcium-rich food because it prevents proper iron absorption. This includes bananas, nuts, milk, and dairy products like cheese and yoghurt. Gluten-rich food. Gluten may damage the intestinal wall and hinder the absorption of folic acid and iron necessary for producing red blood cells. Some of the most common sources of gluten are pasta, oats, barley, and wheat products. Phytate-rich food. Phytates prevent the body from absorbing iron because they bind with the micronutrient in the digestive tract. Legumes, wholegrain cereals, and nuts are samples of phytate-rich sources. Certain medications for relieving indigestion can also prevent the body from absorbing iron. Your doctor may refer you to a dietician for a more detailed and personalised diet plan. Infants are also at risk of anaemia. However, you can ensure they have sufficient iron levels by: Using iron-fortified formulae Giving iron-fortified cereal from four months of age Giving only three cups of cow's milk daily from one year old Introducing iron-rich foods from one year old Monitoring Your Iron Levels Taking iron supplements is one of the most effective and fastest treatments for iron deficiency. Your doctor may ask you to return after a month of taking the supplements to check your response to the treatment. You may need to take a blood test to check your haemoglobin levels. You'll continue to take the supplement if your levels improve and see your doctor again after two to four months. Your doctor may advise you to continue taking it for three months after your haemoglobin and red blood cells are normal to increase your iron levels. After this, you may stop taking supplements, but you'll be monitored every three months. However, there are times when iron levels start falling again. It happens when you don't have enough iron in your diet. Women with heavy periods or pregnant may experience this, too. Your doctor may prescribe an ongoing iron supplement to boost your iron levels. Ferritin VS Iron Ferritin and iron are two different things. Ferritin is found in numerous body cells, such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and reticuloendothelial cells. It plays a crucial role in absorbing, storing, and releasing iron. Once you have insufficient iron, ferritin releases it for your body's consumption. However, if your ferritin is depleted, you won't have enough iron to produce red blood cells in your bone marrow. How to Test Your Ferritin Levels A ferritin blood test is the best way to check your ferritin levels. It effectively measures the amount of ferritin in your blood and estimates your iron levels, too. A ferritin blood test measures the amount of ferritin, a blood protein that stores iron, in your body. Imagine your body as a kitchen pantry where you stock food for daily use while keeping other items for the long term. This is how your body stores iron. It takes some iron from your food to produce oxygen in your blood. However, it also stores this micronutrient and uses it when you're not getting enough iron from your diet. This iron is stored in ferritin. Your doctor may require a ferritin blood test if your other blood tests show signs of anaemia. The test can help determine whether you need more or lower iron levels. Further, the test can diagnose other diseases like a rare type of arthritis accompanied by rash and fever known as Still's disease. It's also effective in diagnosing restless legs syndrome. A ferritin blood test can detect if you're storing too much iron. An infection, liver disease, alcohol abuse, overactive thyroid, rheumatoid arthritis, or cancer could cause it. These are the most common symptoms of low ferritin levels: Paleness of skin Fatigue Palpitations Dizziness Shortness of breath On the other hand, you can also have high ferritin levels. As an acute phase protein, ferritin can increase when you suffer from inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis, an infection, or trauma. Other causes of high ferritin are: Heavy alcohol use Liver disease Kidney failure Overactive thyroid Haemochromatosis or iron overload syndrome is another cause. It's an inherited condition wherein the body accumulates iron over time after being unable to get rid of it. Certain types of cancer can also cause an increase in ferritin levels due to iron overload. If the levels continue to rise, it will accumulate in the liver and other body organs and damage them. [TEST] How to Increase Ferritin Levels There's no better and more effective way to increase ferritin levels than changing your diet. Here's how: Increase intake of dark green leafy vegetables Eat more beans, peas, and lentils Load up on fortified bread and cereals Include red meat in your diet Adding these to your diet with those rich in Vitamin C can improve iron absorption and help boost ferritin levels. How to Reduce Ferritin Levels Raised ferritin levels are frequently temporary because of infection or inflammation. They'll go back to normal once you feel better. However, your doctor may advise you to reduce your iron levels if the cause is iron overload. Here's how to decrease your ferritin levels: Reduce intake of iron-rich foods Don't use iron cookware Avoid taking vitamin C if you already have an iron-rich diet Reduce the dosage of iron supplements after consulting your doctor Donate blood regularly to reduce iron levels Anaemia can lead to serious health complications if left untreated. Therefore, you must conduct an iron test at home using a home anaemia test to determine your iron levels. Always seek your doctor's advice before taking iron supplements. Summary Of Anaemia & The Role Of Iron Topic Details What is Iron? Micronutrient, vital for haemoglobin production. Who Needs More Iron? Teenage girls, pregnant women, infants, blood donors, certain health conditions. Effects on Health Prevents iron deficiency anaemia, crucial for pregnant women & infants. Iron Deficiency Symptoms Fatigue, paleness, palpitations, weakness, dizziness, brittle nails, poor appetite. Causes of Deficiency Blood loss, poor diet, bad absorption, pregnancy. Iron Testing Vitall's Anaemia Home Test Kit, ferritin blood test. Treatments Iron supplements, iron-rich diet, dietary adjustments. Dietary Considerations Include iron-rich & Vitamin C foods, limit tea, coffee, gluten. Ferritin vs Iron Ferritin stores iron; its levels indicate body's iron storage status.