Iron deficiency affects many more people than previously thought. A recent study found that 14% of U.S. adults suffer from absolute iron deficiency, meaning their bodies lack enough iron. Another surprising finding is that 15% of adults suffer from functional iron deficiency, where their bodies are unable to properly utilize the iron in their bodies.
Researchers came to these interesting findings through a nationally representative survey of 8,021 U.S. adults conducted between 2017 and 2020. Iron and unsaturated iron binding ability.
this study The prevalence of absolute and functional iron deficiency was estimated for all U.S. adults and separately for men and women by age group. Absolute iron deficiency is defined as a serum ferritin concentration less than 30 ng/mL, regardless of transferrin saturation. Functional iron deficiency is defined as a serum ferritin concentration of 30 ng/mL or higher and a transferrin saturation of less than 20%.
“These findings suggest that absolute and functional iron deficiency affects a large proportion of U.S. adults, even in the absence of anemia, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. About the role of functional iron deficiency in adverse health outcomes and iron deficiency screening Strategies are needed for further research,” the researchers wrote in the journal Jama Network Open.
Iron deficiency is common in young children, adolescent girls, and women of childbearing age, as well as in people with anemia, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. However, its prevalence outside these groups remains unclear.
“This is a common but underappreciated public health problem. Our study is unique in that we looked at ordinary people who would not otherwise be screened or tested.” explain Study co-author Leo Buckley is a clinical pharmacology specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.
Here's how to detect iron deficiency:
The best way to detect iron deficiency is through a blood test that measures the amount of iron, transferrin (the protein that carries iron), and ferritin (the protein that stores iron) in the blood.
When iron levels are low, the body may not show any iron levels sign But as iron deficiency and the resulting anemia worsen, people may feel tired, chills, short of breath, weak, and dizzy. Some people complain of chest pain, difficulty concentrating, or frequent bruising. Anemia can also cause headaches, restless legs syndrome, and in some cases pica, a condition in which people crave non-food items such as ice, chalk, or clay. Other symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include pale skin, cold hands and feet, brittle nails and cracked corners of the mouth.