DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED IRON FOR ANAEMIA

Commonly Iron deficiency is thought of as only cause of Anaemia and we start taking iron in the form of supplements but Anaemia is not significant with iron deficiency. It leads to misuse and complete ineffectiveness of Iron supplements in many cases and it worsens the condition if the cause of Anaemia is otherwise.

Physiology of Iron and Anaemia

Let me try to explain physiology of iron and anaemia, Iron has crucial biological functions to perform like:

1. DNA Synthesis
2. Respiration
3. Cell Proliferation

We tend to determine our Anaemic status with levels of Haemoglobin. We believe that the lack of Iron (Fe) is direct cause of low Haemoglobin. Which is not True.

Besides Circulating Iron, we have storage form of Iron called as Ferritin. Iron in our body is stored in form of ferritin and the rest keeps circulating. In case of deficiency, our body starts utilizing this stored Iron. So, there must be a cause behind this depletion which needs to be considered rather than just the deficiency.

Human body tends to reserve Iron in several ways like

1. Recycling of Iron is done in humans after breakdown of RBC’s so that this Iron can be further utilized
2. Retention of Iron is done because of absence of excretory mechanisms

So, our body tends to reserve iron and there are other causes to this deficiency which should be considered. Thus, adding more iron in form of supplements does not solve the issue. Rather, it has lead to misuse and complete ineffectiveness of Iron supplements in many cases.

Now, Coming to What ALL can cause ANAEMIA

1. FIRST THING to be looked at should be your GUT – Various GUT DISORDERS can lead to either mal absorption or increase uptake of iron LIKE
   1. Pylori infection
   2. Inflammatory bowel diseases
   3. Pernicious anaemia – due to B12 deficiency and caused by diseases like Leaky Gut, Gut Dysbiosis, Tapeworm infestation
   4. Decreased stomach acid – In certain diseases or prolonged antacid use.

2. SECONDLY, Infection and Chronic Diseases can also lead to anaemia. A bacterium eats iron and sequesters iron in our mitochondria. In such cases, there cannot be any marked improvement in iron levels until the infections are not treated.
3. GENETIC DISEASES like Sickle Cell Anaemia
4. BLOOD LOSSES in form ofmetrorrhagia or bleeding can also be a cause of Anaemia

Excess of Iron can be toxic, and that is why absorption of iron is limited to 1-2 mg daily. We tend to take sufficient iron from our diet. But, there are factors that determine iron absorption from the food we eat like

1. Presence of tannins, phyticacid that inhibit iron absorption – Tannins are present in tea, coffee and so they should be avoided with meals for maximal iron absorption.

Phytic acid is present in nuts, legumes, seeds and also interferes with iron absorption. Legumes when soaked, sprouted or fermented have low phytic acid (and so advised to be soaked or fermented)

1. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption – If we eat foods with high Vitamin C, it will promote iron absorption from our diet