Low iron is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world and, as Cathy O’Leary reports, women bear the brunt.
Tiredness and brain fog in women can be dismissed as the innocuous casualties of busy lives but Perth researchers are worried iron deficiency is often going under the radar.
They argue that many women, including those fit and healthy, are actually anaemic, unaware they have abnormally low levels of red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body.
The impact can be significant, with added strain placed on the heart because it needs to pump harder to move enough oxygen, and this can lead to arrhythmia, an enlarged heart or even heart failure.
It’s estimated that 30 per cent of the world’s population is anaemic primarily due to iron deficiency, and women bear the lion’s share because they lose iron during their periods and need more when pregnant or breastfeeding.
In a recent research paper in the journal Anaesthesia, researchers from the University of Western Australia and University College London highlighted the need to improve diagnosis and treatment of the common condition often overlooked in women.
Team lead Professor Toby Richards, Lawrence-Brown Chair in Vascular Surgery at UWA, is calling for greater recognition and equality for women’s health. He said statistics showed one in three women would need to take iron supplements at some point in their life.
“Our figures show that up to 18 per cent of women who appear fit and healthy are actually deficient in iron, with heavy menstrual bleeding the most common cause,” he said. “Symptoms reported by women range from fatigue to brain fog, hair loss and eating ice.”
Professor Richards said iron deficiency was a particular problem for women involved in fitness or sport, with up to one in five athletes affected.
“Issues with a women’s menstrual cycle and particularly heavy periods are surprisingly common and often not recognised with more than half also suffering iron deficiency,” he said.
“It’s so common it’s hiding in plain sight and both are under-diagnosed issues in women’s health. Unfortunately, there has been a dogma to accept these as ‘in the normal range’ for women.”
Professor Richards’ team surveyed two groups of women, including 68 triathletes and 181 students, at a UWA orientation day.
The women completed a simple questionnaire about previous iron status, menstrual blood loss, diet and motherhood. They were then tested for anaemia. Of the 181 women tested, about 15 per cent or one in seven women were anaemic and most were unaware.
“This is alarming that so many apparently fit and healthy women are actually anaemic, which may impact on their physical and mental health,” Professor Richards said.
He said many women simply coped with constant tiredness among a host of other symptoms, without addressing the root cause. Some were wrongly put on depression medication when in fact their problem was a lack of iron.
“We want to raise awareness of these conditions and help women recognise the signs and symptoms, in order to get the treatment that their body needs to improve their health and welfare,” he said.