Acidosis & Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron is an integral part of red blood cells that help carry oxygen to the tissues in your body. An iron deficiency occurs when your body does not get enough iron to carry out with normal body functions. Iron deficiency is a leading cause of disability and death around the world. At the time of publication, the "Lancet" reported approximately 2 billion people have iron deficiency. It occurs in three stages, with the third stage being anemia. In iron deficiency anemia, your body's hemoglobin levels are below a reference range. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Serum and tissue ferritin, the protein responsible for iron storage, are also decreased in the third stage of iron deficiency anemia.

Acidosis

Chemical acid and bases exist in the fluids in your body and are normally kept in balance by the kidneys and lungs through filtering and respiration. In cases where there is too much acid, a condition called acidosis occurs. Metabolic acidosis happens when the kidneys cannot remove acid from the fluid. Respiratory acidosis occurs when the body cannot efficiently remove carbon dioxide in situations of low oxygen levels. There are several causes for acidosis, which include alcohol consumption, excessive exercise, kidney failure, severe dehydration and prolonged lack of oxygen from shock, heart failure or chronic iron-deficiency anemia.

Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms caused by iron deficiency anemia. The most common symptoms are pale skin and fatigue. Fatigue and weakness can give you intolerance for exercise and cause irritability. It is possible to experience a decreased appetite and shortness of breath. Because acidosis is caused from an underlying condition like anemia, most noticeable symptoms are from the cause. In most cases of metabolic and respiratory acidosis, you experience shortness of breath. Respiratory acidosis can also cause confusion and sleepiness.

Tests

Several blood measurements and tests can help determine if you are experiencing iron deficiency anemia. Different testing models have been designed to determine iron status during the various stages of depletion. A four-variable model is often used to determine iron deficiency anemia. It can determine the difference between iron-deficiency anemia and other forms of anemia. The model includes measurement of the volume of the average red blood cell, level of serum ferritin, levels of the iron-transporting protein and levels of erythrocyte protoporphyrin that normally accumulate in the red blood cells. Determining if you have acidosis, involves arterial blood gas measurements that measure the level of carbon dioxide. Your physician also looks serum electrolytes to determine if the blood is more acidic than basic.

Treatment

Treatment of acidosis due to iron-deficiency anemia involves treating the cause, which, in this case, is iron deficiency anemia. Because anemia and acidosis can have different causes besides iron deficiency, consult a physician before any treatment with iron supplements. If your iron status is low, treatment can include dietary changes unless otherwise advised. It is possible to restore iron levels with a diet rich in red meat, egg yolks, poultry and some beans. Your physician, depending on your iron status, may advise treatment with iron supplementation in addition to dietary changes. According to PubMed Health, if there are no complications, the outcome after treatment can return iron levels to normal within two months.