Your body contains more iron than any other trace mineral. About two-thirds of this iron is found in hemoglobin, the protein center of your red blood cells, according to "Nutrition and You" by Joan Salge Blake. Iron deficiency is characterized by a lower-than-normal amount of iron in your body. Iron deficiency is the most common form of nutritional deficiency, according to the California Department of Health.
Physiology
Iron is a critical component of hemoglobin. The iron in hemoglobin binds to oxygen in your lungs and deliveries it to all of your tissues. The iron in hemoglobin also picks up carbon dioxide from your tissues and brings it to your lungs so your body can remove it. Without adequate amounts of iron, your body cannot produce hemoglobin, and as a result, cannot produce healthy red blood cells. As a result, the number of functioning red blood cells in your body decreases.
Stages of Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency occurs is stages. The initial, and mildest, stage of iron deficiency is called iron depletion. In this stage, the body contains enough iron to function properly, but iron stores are depleted. In the middle stage of iron deficiency, all of the stored iron is used, causing serum iron levels to drop. As this stage progresses, fewer red blood cells are produced. The final stage of iron deficiency is iron-deficiency anemia. In this stage, the body is completely depleted of iron. The body contains fewer red blood cells than normal, and many of them are pale in color and small in size.
Causes
The leading cause of iron deficiency is blood loss. Heavy menstrual periods, bleeding ulcers and chronic gastrointestinal bleeding often lead to significant enough blood loss to cause iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can also develop as a result of medical disorders, such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease, which prevent your body from absorbing iron properly. Some prescription medications can also interfere with iron absorption. Poor dietary intake of iron may also lead to iron deficiency over time. Because a significant amount of iron is found in meat, fish and poultry, vegans and vegetarians present the highest risk group for this type of iron deficiency.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of iron deficiency is fatigue, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Fatigue develops because your tissues do not have access to oxygen due to a lack of healthy red blood cells. This lack of oxygen can also cause shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, pale skin, chest pain, and coldness in the hands and feet.
Left untreated, iron deficiency can also lead to irregular heart rhythm, heart murmurs, an enlarged heart and, in severe cases, heart failure.
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