Tea Time: Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Brittle nails
- Pale skin
- Swelling of the tongue
- Cold intolerance
- Trouble concentrating
- Dizziness
- Pica
- Tests used to dx
- CBC
- RBC, Hgb, Hct, MCV
- Iron (might not be low)
- Ferritin (stored iron)
- Reticulocyte count (very young RBCs)
- CBC
- Contributing factors
- GI bleeding
- Von Willebrand syndrome
- Hemophilia
- Frequent blood donation
- Inflammation
- Vulnerable populations
- Infants age 7-12 months (stores from birth are depleted)
- Toddlers, especially if they drink a lot of milk
- Teens, who have increased needs
- Older adults, who have decreased intake
- Children with high lead levels
- Vegetarians/vegans
- Endurance athletes
- Women with heavy periods
- Pregnant/breastfeeding women
- Picky eaters
- RDA
- 7-12 mo: 11mg
- 1-3yo: 7mg
- 4-8yo: 10mg
- 9-13yo: 8mg
- 14-18yo: 11mg (boys), 15mg (girls)
- 19-50yo: 8mg(men), 18mg (women)
- Pregnant: 27mg
- BF teen: 10mg, BF adult: 9mg
- 51+: 8mg
- Types/sources of iron
- Heme iron
- Meats (beef, chicken, turkey)
- Salmon
- Eggs
- Non-Heme Iron
- Beans, peas, lentils (1.5-8.8mg per cup)
- Dried fruit (1.5mg per 1/2c)
- Dark leafy greens (3.2mg per 1/2c boiled)
- Tofu (3.4mg per 1/2c)
- Nuts
- Blackstrap molasses (3.5mg per tbsp!
- Fortified cereals and breads (1-18mg; 10mg per 1cup fortified oatmeal)
- Heme iron
- Supplements
- Only if diagnosed and recommended by MD
- May be necessary to replenish stores
- It can take 3-6 months to replenish
- Side effects
- Metallic taste
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Upset stomach
- Take with food
- Lower dose
- Time-release
- Take with vitamin C
- Avoid taking with calcium
- Avoid black tea