Tag Archives: iron deficiency

Iron Supplements

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The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that nutrient needs should be met through the foods we eat whenever possible. However, fortified foods and dietary supplements may be necessary in some cases. Iron is found in both animal and plant foods in two different forms — heme iron (from animals) and nonheme iron (from plants). When diet alone cannot restore deficient iron levels to a normal range, supplements may be needed. Iron supplements are generally available in two forms: ferrous and ferric. Of the two, ferrous iron salts like ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate are best absorbed by the body. … Continue reading →

Iron Deficiency

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According to the World Health Organization, iron deficiency is the number one nutritional disorder in the world — as much as eighty percent of the world population may be iron deficient. As much as thirty percent of the world population may have anemia resulting from iron deficiency. Iron deficiency usually develops gradually. It starts in the body with a negative iron balance — when your iron intake doesn’t meet the body’s daily need for iron. At first, your body’s stores of iron are depleted but the hemoglobin level in your blood stays the same. Anemia develops when the body’s iron … Continue reading →

Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia is more common during pregnancy than when you are not pregnant. The reason is the increased volume of blood in your body. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin to carry oxygen in the red blood cells. Your growing baby and the placenta also need iron to grow properly. A deficiency in iron is the main cause of anemia. Anemia can have several affects on your baby and your body. If you are anemic, you are at a higher risk of having preterm labor or a low birth weight baby. The baby’s iron level may also be low at birth … Continue reading →

Low Iron Linked to Hair Loss

Worried about losing your hair? New research says that there may be a connection between baldness and iron deficiency! Research published over the last forty years indicates that there may be a relationship between iron deficiency and some common kinds of hair loss. And people may need higher levels of iron than previously thought to be able to regrow hair. Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic hope that detecting and treating iron deficiencies in the early stages of hair loss may help patients regrow hair more effectively. Believe it or not, iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the … Continue reading →