Iron Deficiency

Conditions associated with iron deficiency include:

• Anaemia
• Impaired cognitive function
• Impaired immune function
• Impaired exercise or work performance
• Restless legs
• Difficulty maintaining body temperature in a cold environment
• Angular cheilitis
• Glossitis
• Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis
• Spoon shaped fingernails
• Brittle hair
• Oesophageal webs
• Learning difficulties in infants and children
• • If low in pregnancy, increase risk of her infant’s risk of low birthweight, premature birth, low iron stores, and impaired cognitive and behavioural development
  • Adverse cognitive and psychological effects in infancy, including delayed attention and social withdrawal
• Cravings for nonfood material such as dirt (pica)
• Cravings for ice (pagophagia)

References:

1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
2. Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamins A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium and Zinc. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 2001. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222310/
3. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/17122_nhmrc_nrv_update-dietary_intakes-web.pdf
4. World Health Organization. Trace elements in human nutrition and health. 1996. Available from: http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/9241561734/en/
5. Braun L, Cohen M. Herbs and Natural Supplements: An evidence based guide. 4th Edition, Vol 2. Australia. Elsevier, 2015.

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