Nutrition
Is Your Iron Level Low? Discover If You Need a Supplement
Iron deficiency can significantly impact your well-being, yet many individuals remain unaware that they have it. This condition often goes undetected because it isn’t part of routine medical screenings. However, this might need to change, as recent research indicates that nearly one in three Americans could be living with undiagnosed iron deficiency.
A study published in JAMA Network Open on September 24 analyzed data from about 8,021 U.S. adults. Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston discovered that 14 percent of participants had absolute iron deficiency, while 15 percent had functional iron deficiency. The study included adults over 18 years old, with an average age of 48, who did not have known risk factors or conditions commonly associated with iron deficiency.
“These findings suggest that absolute and functional iron deficiency affect a large proportion of American adults even in the absence of anemia, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease,” the study abstract states.
Leo Buckley, PharmD, a clinical pharmacology specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and co-author of the study, spoke to CNBC about the significance of these findings.
He described iron deficiency as a “common yet underappreciated public health problem.”
“What’s unique about our study is we were looking at regular people who would not otherwise have been screened or tested,” Buckley added.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has guidelines for iron deficiency screening among “high-risk groups,” but these parameters do not clearly extend to the general population. Consequently, current screening recommendations may miss up to 70 percent of iron deficiency cases in children and pregnant women.
Given this information, it’s possible that you might have an iron deficiency without realizing it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms such as constant fatigue, shortness of breath, chills, pale or yellow skin, craving ice or non-food items, and brittle nails or hair loss could indicate a need to consult your doctor about a potential iron supplement or treatment.
While the study highlights the prevalence of undiagnosed iron deficiency, Buckley believes that not everyone needs to be screened for it. Instead, he suggests that healthcare professionals should test iron levels if patients exhibit deficiency symptoms or are at high risk.
By being aware of these symptoms and discussing them with your healthcare provider, you can take proactive steps to address potential iron deficiency and improve your overall health.
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