Iron Deficiency Anemia Signs and Symptoms

Table Of Content

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• vitamin D
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• If iron deficiency anaemia is not treated
• Vitamins, minerals, and hair loss: Is there a connection?
• Search Strategy for Identification of Studies
• Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

The serum and hair selenium levels were 38 ± 11 ng/mL and 0.34 ± 0.13 μg/g, respectively. Hair started to re-pigment after 6–12 months of therapy with intravenous selenium [117]. Similar findings, including alopecia with pseudoalbinism, were found in 6 infants receiving nutritional support. In these six infants, after starting daily selenium therapy (5 μg/kg/day), selenium serum levels returned to the normal range of 5–15 μg/dL, and alopecia and pseudoalbinism improved [118].

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In addition to hair loss, fatigue and cold hands and feet can be signs of both low thyroid and iron deficiency. They can be easily corrected, either with replacement thyroid hormones or iron supplements. Most of the studies related to iron deficiency anemia and hair loss look at hair loss in women. Female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia, is the most common hair loss type in women. Studies on the role of iron in AA have shown a discrepancy in the results between females and males.

vitamin D

Eating a well-balanced diet can help ensure you get the recommended amount of iron each day. Reach for iron-rich foods like spinach, broccoli, peas, tofu and iron-rich meats like beef and lamb. According to Agbai, genetics, hormonal shifts, stress, underlying medical conditions, nutritional deficiencies, and scalp inflammation are notable factors. Several studies show an association between AA and low vitamin D levels. Patients should be checked and given supplementation if vitamin D levels are low.

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Pregnant females should take prenatal vitamins, which usually contain iron. Women who have heavy periods may also need to take iron supplements. If you need to take an iron supplement, don't take more than 45 mg per day unless your doctor tells you to.

If iron deficiency anaemia is not treated

Baldness is often hereditary, and is activated by a shift in your hormones. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s completely normal to shed anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. However, if you’ve noticed more strands falling out of your head than normal, you may be experiencing alopecia, the medical term for hair loss. Common diagnoses include androgenetic alopecia, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, and lymphocytic scarring alopecia, Agbai tells USA TODAY. The vitamin biotin has been recommended by healthcare professionals to boost your keratin (the protein that helps with the formation of hair, skin and nails). While more research is needed on the effects of biotin on hair growth, some studies have suggested a link between the supplement and improved hair thickness.

You’ve probably heard of iron deficiency––or maybe even had it yourself. Research estimates between 30–50% of children and other groups worldwide have anemia due to lack of iron. This is especially prevalent in developing countries of Africa, for example, because many kids don’t get enough iron from their diet (Miller, 2013). If you aren't consuming enough iron, or if you're losing too much iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin, and iron deficiency anemia will eventually develop. Make sure you’re getting enough sun and try to incorporate vitamin D-rich sources into your diet like eggs, cheese, and fatty fish. Hair loss is often one of the first signs of hypothyroidism, a condition that makes your body produce a lower-than-normal amount of thyroid hormones.

Search Strategy for Identification of Studies

It is also important to note that too much iron can cause side effects, such as iron poisoning and even organ and tissue damage. While these haircare products generally can’t stop hair loss, they can help you take care of the hair you have to make the thinning or patches less noticeable. There are also a range of hairstyles which can make hair loss less obvious and improve confidence. Yulia Treister-Gotzman contributed to the conception of the research.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

If your diet is partly causing your iron deficiency anaemia, your GP will tell you what foods are rich in iron so you can eat more of them. Being pregnant and having a child can also cause iron deficiency anemia. If your kidneys aren't working the right way, they can't make erythropoietin, a hormone made by kidneys that helps with producing red blood cells. Having fewer red blood cells affects the ability to carry oxygen throughout your body, which can lead to anemia. If you're pregnant, your iron storage has to provide hemoglobin to your baby and help with the increased amount of blood you have throughout your pregnancy. Iron levels can be corrected by increasing iron in the diet or taking iron supplement pills.

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), telogen effluvium (TE), and alopecia areata (AA) represent the three most common types of non-scarring alopecia [9]. There are several reasons to suspect a role for micronutrients in non-scarring alopecia. If a doctor suspects low ferritin levels play a role in a person’s hair loss, they will generally prescribe iron supplements and then monitor their symptoms.

Your doctor will most likely order a ferritin level blood test, which measures the levels of a protein called ferritin that helps store iron. To elucidate the role of vitamin D in FPHL and TE, additional large-scale trials are necessary [77]. Published data on AA suggest that vitamin D, due to its immunomodulatory effect, may be involved in AA [66, 67]. Lee et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies on the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and/or serum vitamin D levels and AA [68].

Iron deficiency is caused by not having enough iron in the blood. It can result due to one's diet, problems with iron absorption, or a health condition like Crohn's disease. If you’re noticing hair falling out in the shower, or your hair loss is sudden/falling out in clumps, make sure you speak to your doctor to identify the cause. If you’re lacking iron in your blood, your skin might seem paler than is normal. The results of an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa scale for the risk of bias assessment of the included studies are shown in online supplementary Table 1 and 2.

These authors analyzed a total of 14 studies that involved 1255 patients with AA and 784 control patients without AA. The mean serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level in patients with AA was significantly lower than that in the non-AA control group, by 8.52 ng/dL (95% confidence interval − 11.53 to − 5.50 ng/dL). Vitamin D deficiency was also highly prevalent in patients with AA, leading the authors to suggest that the vitamin D level has to be measured in patients with AA. These results also suggest that vitamin D supplements or topical vitamin D analogues should be considered for patients with AA and vitamin D deficiency. However, the meta-analysis did not find any clear correlations between extent of hair loss and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level [68]. Management of alopecia is an essential aspect of clinical dermatology given the prevalence of hair loss and its significant impact on patients’ quality of life.