Here’s how to recognize a deficiency

Iron deficiency affects many more people than previously thought. A recent study found that 14% of American adults suffer from absolute iron deficiency, which means that their body lacks adequate amounts of iron. Another striking finding is that 15% of adults have functional iron deficiency, where the body is unable to properly utilize the iron it has.

The researchers made these fascinating conclusions based on a nationally representative survey of 8,021 U.S. adults conducted from 2017 to 2020. Participants were non-institutionalized civilian men and women at least 18 years of age who had available measurements of serum ferritin, iron, and unsaturated iron binding capacity.

The test estimated the prevalence of both absolute and functional iron deficiency among all US adults, and also separately for men and women by age group. Absolute iron deficiency was defined as a serum ferritin level less than 30 ng/ml, regardless of transferrin saturation. Functional iron deficiency was defined as a serum ferritin level of 30 ng/mL or higher with transferrin saturation of less than 20%.

“These findings suggest that absolute and functional iron deficiency affects a gigantic proportion of American adults, even in the absence of anemia, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. “Further research into the role of functional iron deficiency in adverse health outcomes and screening for iron deficiency is needed,” the researchers wrote in the journal Jama Network Open.

Iron deficiency is commonly seen in youthful children, adolescent girls and women of childbearing age, as well as in people with anemia, chronic kidney disease and heart failure. However, the prevalence of the disease outside these groups remains unclear.

“It is a common but underestimated public health problem. “What’s unique about our study is that we looked at ordinary people who otherwise wouldn’t have been screened or tested,” he added. he said study co-author Leo Buckley, 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 blood tests that measure the levels of iron, transferrin (a protein that carries iron) and ferritin (a protein that stores iron) in the blood.

When iron levels are low, the body may not produce it signs however, as iron deficiency and resulting anemia worsen, people may experience fatigue, chills, shortness of breath, weakness, and dizziness. Some people complain of chest pain, difficulty concentrating, or regular 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, frigid feet and hands, brittle nails, and cracks at the corners of the mouth.