Anemia Mythbusters
FAQ
Anemia Mythbusters
Taking iron supplement causes weight gain
On the contrary, a 2014 study reported that treatment of iron deficiency not only improves hematological parameters but also induces weight loss and boosts metabolism. The study looked at 21 anemic women over the course of four to six months who took iron supplements orally to treat anemia. As a result, the patients reportedly significantly reduced waist circumference, body weight and BMI after treatment compared to their pre-treatment phase.
However, this study was conducted in a very small number of subjects hence larger prospective studies are required to confirm the results.
References:
Vegetarians are candidates for anemia
Being a vegetarian doesn't automatically mean you're going to be anemic. A 2012 study of female vegetarian students found* that there is no difference in iron intake between non-vegetarians. White vegetarians could be at risk of anemia if they don't consume enough iron, there are actually iron-rich vegetables to help prevent the onset of iron deficiency: spinach, beans, oatmeal, tofu and black-eyed peas.
References:
https://www.foodforbetterhealth.com/busting-the-myth-of-the-vegetarian-anemic-1687
* Hawk S, Englehardt K, Small, C. Risks of iron deficiency among vegetarian college women. Health. Vol.4 No.3, March 2012
Insomnia is a symptom of anemia
Anemia affects the quality of sleep but insomnia is not a direct symptom of anemia.
A lack of iron in the body can cause symptoms such as fatigue and Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) which affects sleep quality and alertness. Those who suffer from RLS shared a growing urge or sensation to move their legs that worsens at night, which may leave one with disrupted sleep and feeling tired upon waking up.
References:
https://www.livestrong.com/article/517941-lack-of-iron-insomnia/
https://www.bustle.com/articles/140471-7-subtle-signs-you-might-be-anemic
** Sadrzadeh SM, Saffari Y. Iron and brain disorders. Am J Clin Pathol.2004;121:64-70. [Pubmed]
A healthy diet guarantees good iron levels all the time
Healthy eating habits could sometimes accidentally negatively affect iron intake by accident. For instance, there are natural chemicals called phytates found in nuts, legumes, seeds, grains and soy that may interfere with the absorption of iron. Likewise, polyphenols found in black tea, herbal teas, coffee and wine also interfere with iron absorption.
References:
Hair loss is in no way related to iron deficiency
Surprisingly, hair loss may be connected to iron deficiency. Iron deficiency (ID) is the world's most common nutritional deficiency and is a well-known cause of hair loss.* The condition can be detrimental to overall health as well as to hair health.
References:
14. Kantor J, Kessier LJ, Brooks DG, Cotsarelis G. Decreased serum ferritin is associated with alopecia in women. J Invest Dermatol. 2003;121(5);985-988. [PubMed]
15. Ohyama M, Terunuma A, Tock CL, et al. Characterization and isolation of stem cell-enriched human hair follicle bulge cells. J Clin Invest. 2006;116(1):249-260. [PMC free article][PubMed]
16. St Pierre SA, Vercecllotti GM, Donovan JC, Hordinsky MK. Iron deficiency and diffuse nonscarring scalp alopecia in women; more pieces to the puzzle. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;63(6):1070-7076. [PubMed]
17. Du X, She E, Gelbeart T, et al. The serine protease TMPRSS6 is required to sense iron deficiency. Science. 2008;320(5879):1088-1092. [PMC free article][PubMed]
Taking iron supplements during pregnancy will make it impossible for the child to suffer from iron deficiency
It is important for a pregnant woman to be adequately nourished with iron supplements. The iron requirement during pregnancy is increased gradually through gestation from 0.8 mg/day in the first trimester to 7.5 mg/day in the third trimester. Throughout the entire gestation period, the average demand for absorbed iron is approximately 4.4 mg/day. The absorbed iron is used to fulfill the fetus' iron requirements and compensate for iron losses at birth.
The newborn's iron status depends on the mother's iron status during pregnancy. Infants born to mothers who have taken iron supplements during gestation have enough body iron reserves for four to six months. However, this reserve depletes after six months of age thus iron-fortified complementary diet or iron supplements of adequate nutritional value becomes a need for infants six months of age and beyond.
References:
Milman N. Iron and pregnancy--a delicate balance. Ann Hematol. 2006 Sep;85(9):559-65.
Saddi R, Shapira G. Iron requirements during growth. In: Hallberg L, Harwerth HG, Vanotti A (eds) Iron deficiency. Academic, London, 1970; 183-198.
World Health Organization. Iron Deficiency Anaemia: Assessment, Prevention, and Control. World Health Organization, 2001.
Iron supplements darken a baby's complexion
The color of the baby's skin is determined by genes and not by any food or supplements intake.
References:
Menstruation does not lead to anemia
While monthly period isn't a factor in causing anemia, blood loss due to menstruation every month leads to loss of iron in those red blood cells. If monthly iron intake and absorption does not replace the iron lost during the monthly period, one may end up with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). People with heavy menstrual bleeding are more susceptible to IDA. A person is considered to have heavy menstrual bleeding when the menstrual period is typically over 80ml. In case the blood loss is more than 80ml, consult a doctor immediately.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072478/, World Health Organization. Global Nutrition Targets 2025: Anaemia policy brief.
FAQ
What is iron-deficiency anemia?
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, a condition that happens when your body does not make enough healthy red blood cells.
Iron-deficiency anemia happens when you don’t have enough iron in your body. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen through your blood to all parts of your body.
What are the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia?
Iron-deficiency anemia often develops slowly. In the beginning, you may not have any symptoms, or they may be mild. As it gets worse, you may notice one or more of these symptoms:
Fatigue (very common)
Weakness (very common)
Dizziness
Headaches
Low body temperature
Pale or yellow "sallow" skin
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath or chest pain, especially with physical activity
Brittle nails
Pica (unusual cravings for ice, very cold drinks, or non-food items like dirt or paper)
If you think you may have iron-deficiency anemia, talk to your doctor or nurse.
How is iron-deficiency anemia diagnosed?
Talk to your doctor if you think you might have iron-deficiency anemia. Your doctor may:
Ask you questions about your health history, including how regular or heavy your menstrual periods are. Your doctor may also ask you about any digestive system problems you may have, such as blood in your stool.
Do a physical exam
Talk to you about the foods you eat, the medicines you take, and your family health history
Do blood tests. Your doctor will do a complete blood count (CBC). The CBC measures many parts of your blood. If the CBC test shows that you have anemia, your doctor will likely do another blood test to measure the iron levels in your blood and confirm that you have iron-deficiency anemia.
If you have iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may want to do other tests to find out what is causing it.
How is it treated?
Iron-deficiency anemia may be treated with Iron supplements.
Be sure to take your iron supplements exactly as directed.
Iron supplements are absorbed best if taken one hour before meals. Taking them before you eat, may give you an upset stomach or constipation. Talk with your doctor about the best way to handle these side effects.
If you can’t tolerate iron supplements taken by mouth, you may be given iron intravenously (through a tube inserted into a vein) or as an injection in a muscle.
It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks of taking regular iron supplements before your symptoms start to improve.
You may need to keep taking iron for several months to build up your iron reserves and keep your anemia from returning. Take your pills for as long as your doctor recommends, even if your symptoms have improved.
What is iron and why does my body need it?
Iron is a mineral that is found naturally in the human body, in many foods that we eat and in iron or multivitamin supplements. Iron has many roles in the human body, such as, but not limited to:
Helping to create new red blood cells (RBCs)
Aid in carrying oxygen throughout the body
Supporting energy, healthy brain development and the immune system
Helps keep your hair, skin and nails healthy
What happens when you are low on iron?
A low iron level is called iron deficiency. This may cause tiredness. If your iron deficiency is severe, your haemoglobin level can drop. This is called iron deficiency anaemia.
Who needs extra iron?
Even if you take in enough dietary iron, you may still be vulnerable to iron deficiency. Individuals with greater iron needs may include:
Adolescents who experience a rapid period of growth
Pregnant women
Endurance athletes or athletes who train at high intensity
Adolescent women and women of child-bearing age (due to blood loss from menstruation)
Individuals with dietary restrictions, particularly vegetarians
Older/senior patients 65+
Patients with chronic disease
Why are adolescents prone to iron deficiency?
During adolescence, there is rapid increase in height and weight and sexual maturation. Also for adolescent girls, menstruation begins –leading to blood loss each month. To cope with these additional demands, there is an increased requirement of iron. If it isn’t available, young girls suffer from iron deficiency and this leads to anemia.
What is elemental iron?
When you look for iron supplements you may have noticed two different amounts of iron listed on the same package. The higher number is the total amount of iron in the supplement. The second, smaller number is the amount of elemental iron.
Elemental iron is the total amount of iron in the supplement available for absorption by your body. Each type of iron has a different percent of elemental iron. For instance:
Ferrous gluconate has 12% elemental iron.
Ferrous sulfate has 20% elemental iron.
Ferrous fumarate has approximately 33% elemental iron.
The amount of elemental iron in a supplement is typically listed in the Supplement Facts panel.
What are the side effects of taking iron tablets?
The most common side effects of taking iron tablets are nausea, bloating and constipation. If this stops you from being able to take the tablets, your GP can swap you onto a different type of iron tablet to see if the side effects reduce.
Can I get iron from my food?
There are two types of iron, heme and non-haem. Non-haem iron is found in plants, nuts and legumes. This is absorbed at a much lower rate than heme iron, which is found in animal products such as meat. Even if you are making a conscious effort to ingest more heme iron, other daily habits like drinking tea or coffee after your meals can reduce iron absorption, leaving you low in iron. Consuming 1.5 cups of cooked spinach provides the same amount of iron as taking one Livogen capsule. Supplements are not a substitute for a varied diet and healthy lifestyle.
How does your period impact iron-deficiency anemia?
If you have a heavy blood flow during your menstrual cycle, you have a greater risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia. Because a heavy flow can cause excessive blood loss, depleting your body’s iron stores. A heavy flow can cause you to soak a pad or tampon every hour for several hours. You may also experience menstrual bleeding that lasts longer than a week. This bleeding may be accompanied by severe menstrual cramps and/or large blood clots that are passed through the menstrual blood.
What are the risk factors for iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy?
You are at increased risk of developing anemia during pregnancy if you:
Have two closely spaced pregnancies
Are pregnant with more than one baby
Are vomiting frequently due to morning sickness
Don't consume enough iron
Have a heavy pre-pregnancy menstrual flow
Have a history of anemia before your pregnancy
What are the risks associated with iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy?
Anaemia during pregnancy is associated with a range of problems for both the mother and the baby. Iron deficiency increases the risk of having a low birth weight baby and a premature delivery. After giving birth, iron deficiency anaemia can also affect you by causing tiredness and reducing your milk production. It is also associated with postnatal depression. Your baby may have low iron stores at birth too. Another reason to treat your iron deficiency anaemia is to reduce the risk of you needing a blood transfusion during or after delivery. Giving birth often involves bleeding. If you have iron deficiency anaemia it will increase your likelihood of needing a blood transfusion.