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)
• 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)
• 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