People with Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) tend to feel weak and tired often but more than just what feels like chronic exhaustion, anemia is a condition that can also affect other areas of your life, including your immunity.
What is iron deficiency anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia that occurs when you don’t have enough iron in your body, which the body needs to make healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues.
Low intake of iron can happen because of blood loss, consuming less than the recommended daily amount of iron, and medical conditions that make it hard for your body to absorb iron from the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract). Women are more likely to have iron deficiency anemia, mainly because of menstruation and pregnancy, which doubles your need for iron intake.
Common signs and symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia include:
- Pale skin
- Cracks at the sides of the mouth
- Swelling or soreness of the tongue
- Fatigue and/or weakness
- Dizziness and/or headaches
- Difficulty concentrating
How IDA affects your immune system
Iron deficiency anemia doesn’t just mean you’re tired all the time. This condition also affects how your body responds to illnesses.
The immune system is made up of two parts: the specific and non-specific immune systems. Basically, non-specific immunity comprises of the general mechanisms the body deploys daily to keep you safe from sickness. This encompasses many processes, like how your skin and stomach acids work to protect your body from pathogens (harmful bacteria, viruses, and disease-causing micro-organisms) that may enter the body. It also includes specialized cells that work to find, neutralize, and eliminate these pathogens.
In relation to iron, iron deficiency significantly affects non-specific immunity, the body’s first line of defense against pathogens. This makes you more vulnerable to infection and disease, plus other health complications. In fact, frequent infections is a lesser-known symptom of IDA.
We know that a healthy immune system is a key to good overall health. Here we take a look at at-risk groups and try to understand how iron deficiency anemia can have a ripple effect of possible health concerns.
- Pregnant and nursing women - It may be possible for a woman to minimize the likelihood, or severity, of an autoimmune disorder flare-up during the post-partum period through adequate iron intake.
- Athletes - Endurance athletes in particular are at risk for weakened immunity due to IDA, thanks to losing iron through dehydration, sweat, or red blood cell destruction. They may experience slower recovery or illness-like symptoms that may undermine performance.
- Women with heavy menstrual flow - A woman’s immune system weakens during ovulation, making ovulating women more prone to infections from yeast, bacteria and viruses.
- IDA and tuberculosis - Iron deficiency is associated with decreased cellular immunity, which may predispose individuals with iron deficiency anemia to increased risk of developing tuberculosis.
Treating iron deficiency anemia
A healthy diet that is rich in iron and other essential minerals like vitamin B-12 and folate can help you deal with anemia. Incorporate the following iron-rich foods into your diet to boost your intake: red meat, poultry, beans, dairy products, fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, fruit juices.
Also, consider asking your doctor about taking iron supplements if you have diet restrictions or if you feel like you’re not getting enough iron from your diet. Iron + Vitamin B-Complex + Folic Acid (Hemarate FA) is a nutritional supplement for the prevention and treatment of iron-deficiency anemia and vitamin B-complex deficiencies. It contains iron, Vitamins B6 and B12 - nutrients that are necessary for healthy blood, synthesis of hemoglobin.
Take orally, one tablet daily or, as directed by a doctor.
ASC Ref No. U158P072120HS, U043P081420HS, U123P071421HS, U088P070121HS, U089P070121HS
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5134870/#:~:text=The%20role%20of%20iron%20for,deficiency%20than%20is%20cellular%20immunity.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/iron-deficiency-anemia
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0221908
