Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is a secondary result of hemorrhagic anemia’s, as well as resulting from inadequate intakes of iron containing foods and impaired iron absorption (Marieb, Hoehn 642). About 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women, and 3% of men do not have a sufficient amount of iron in their body, making it the most common form of anemia (Medicine Plus).In addition, the blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells, which provide the body energy and a healthy color to the skin. As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Iron is vital for all living organisms, because it is essential for multiple metabolic processes, including oxygen transport, DNA synthesis, and electron transport. Without a sufficient amount of iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen. While body loss of iron quantitatively is as important as absorption in terms of maintaining iron equilibrium, it is a more passive process than absorption. Consistent errors in maintaining this equilibrium lead to either iron deficiency or iron overload.

Iron balance is achieved largely by regulation of iron absorption in the proximal small intestine. Iron uptake in the proximal small bowel occurs by 3 separate pathways. Diminished absorption is habitually due to an insufficient intake of dietary iron in an absorbable form. Hemorrhage is the most common cause of excessive loss of body iron; however it can occur with hemoglobinuria from intravascular hemolytic. In addition, the bleeding is from most orifices, before developing a chronic iron deficient anemic, however gastrointestinal bleeding is unrecognized, and excessive menstrual losses may be overlooked (Conrad). In women,...

... middle of paper ...

...on levels, patients still tend to eat the supplements for long-term. This regulates the iron levels, consequently treating the anemia.

Works Cited

Marieb, Elaine N., and Katja Hoehn. "Chapter 17: Blood." Human Anatomy & Physiology. 8th ed. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2010. 642. Print.

MD Conrad, Marcel E. "Iron Deficiency Anemia." (2009). EMedicine. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. .

Lichtin MD, Alan E. "Iron Deficiency Anemia: Anemias Caused by Deficient Erythropoiesis: Merck Manual Professional." Merck & Co., Inc. Is a Global Research-driven Pharmaceutical Products Company. June 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2011. .

Alleyne M, Horne MK, Miller JL. Individualized treatment for iron-deficiency anemia in adults. Am J Med. 2008;121:943-948.