Iron Screening

Iron is an essential mineral that is needed in your body to help produce red blood cells, which are important for a healthy immune system¹.

Red blood cells are also important for muscle strength, energy and more. Iron helps make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to the cells in your body so they can work.

It's important to note that the body can't make iron by itself, so you need to get it from food.

Getting the correct amount of iron that your body needs to function can be tricky, and iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world².

¹Healthdirect, Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

²Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

It's important to make an appointment with your doctor if you think you have iron deficiency anemia.

Some diagnosis methods that may be used include¹:

• Asking about your medical and family history

• Blood tests

• A physical examination

¹Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

The average person is meant to absorb a small amount of iron daily, but it's harder than you think to absorb iron correctly. That's because the human body only absorbs a small amount of iron that's contained in the food we eat.

Your dietary iron intakes vary depending on your gender and your life stage¹.

For men aged 19 and older, you need roughly 8mgs of iron.

For women, their dietary iron intake changes throughout their lives, depending on their age and whether they are pregnant or breastfeeding.

For women aged 19 to 50 years of age, you need roughly 18mgs of iron.

¹Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

There are two different types of iron that can be found in our diets, which are¹:

• Haem iron: Haem iron is found in animal tissue, including beef, lamb, kangaroo, chicken and fish. This type of iron is most easily absorbed by the body
• Non-haem iron: Non-haem iron is found in animal-based products, such as dried beans, lentils, wholegrains, and iron-filled breakfast cereals. There are also plant foods rich in iron, including dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli, nuts, prunes, seeds and peas.

However, there are certain foods that affect how much iron you can absorb.

For example, Vitamin C rich foods, such as citrus foods, melons and more can help you absorb more iron if you eat them at the same time as iron-rich foods.

On the other hand, coffee, tea, red wine, calcium-rich foods and some soybean-based foods can reduce iron absorption².

The way you prepare your foods can also reduce the amount of iron your body absorbs.

For example, if you eat raw broccoli, your body will absorb 6% of the iron in the food. This is a small amount compared to the 30% your body will absorb if you cook the broccoli.

¹Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

²Healthdirect, Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

If you are healthy, you can't get too much iron as your body regulates how much iron it absorbs from foods and supplemental iron tablets.

¹Healthdirect, Foods high in iron, accessed 4 May 2023

There are three main causes of iron deficiency anemia, which include¹:

• Not eating enough iron rich foods. Your body can't make iron, so the amount of iron you need must come from foods. As some people need iron more than others, including pregnant women, children, teenagers and women who have periods, it's important to make sure they're eating iron rich foods. People who also follow vegetarian or vegan diets are also likely to be more at risk as they don't eat haem iron foods, which is a main source of iron, but are animal products, including beef, chicken and kangaroo².

• You have trouble absorbing iron. Healthy adults usually absorb 10 to 15% of dietary iron, but some people aren't able to absorb or obtain iron from food.

• Blood loss. Iron deficiency easily occurs in people who experience ongoing blood loss, including heavy menstrual periods, regular nose bleeds, regular blood donations and even taking certain medications, such as aspirin.

¹Healthdirect, Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

²Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

Some symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia include¹:

• Being short of breath

• Brittle nails

• Poor appetite

• Cold hands and feet

• Being extremely tired or weak

However, it's important to talk to your doctor about whether or not you are iron deficient. As iron supplements are available without a prescription, it can be easy to self-diagnose whether you have iron deficiency anaemia and this can result in too much iron².

Having too much iron in your body can be toxic, and in some cases, even fatal.

¹Healthdirect, Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

²Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

Extra iron is stored in your liver and used by your body when your dietary iron intake is low.

If your body's iron stores are running low, this can cause one of three stages of iron deficiency¹:

• Iron depletion: This is where your haemoglobin levels ar normal, but the iron stores in your body are running low. This stage has no obvious symptoms.

• Iron deficiency: This is where your stored iron and iron levels in your blood are running low and your haemoglobin levels are dropping below normal. This stage is where you may start experiencing some symptoms, including tiredness.

• Iron deficiency anemia: This is where your haemoglobin levels are so low that your blood is unable to deliver oxygen to your cells. Some symptoms include looking pale, being breathless and fatigue. You also may have reduced immune function, so are more vulnerable to getting sick.

If you are experiencing iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia, it's important to go to your doctor for a blood test so they can check your iron levels and whether you need iron supplements or infusions².

They may also recommend that you eat more iron rich foods, which include broccoli, haem iron foods such as beef, chicken or kangaroo or iron fortified cereals.

¹Healthdirect, Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

²Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

Your treatment options for iron deficiency depend on your iron status and how quickly it needs to be corrected.

We explore the different treatment options through the stages below¹:

• If you have iron depletion, your doctor may suggest increasing the amount of iron rich foods you include in your diet. Your doctor may decide to regularly monitor the iron levels in your blood through blood tests.

• If you have iron deficiency, your doctor may recommend dietary advice and to closely monitor what you are eating. They will encourage you to increase the amount of iron rich foods in your diet and discourage you from eating foods that can reduce iron absorption, such as tea or coffee. They may also recommend iron supplements².

• If you have iron deficiency anemia, you will be prescribed iron supplements from your doctor. It may take six months to a year for your body to restock its iron stores, and your iron levels will be consistently reviewed through blood tests.

The reason that it takes so long for your iron stores to get back to normal is that it is difficult to get enough iron in your body just by changing your diet, which is why your doctor will recommend iron supplements³.

¹Healthdirect, Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

²Better Health Victoria, Iron and Iron Deficiency, accessed 4 May 2023

³Lifeblood, Iron deficiency, accessed 5 May 2023

Iron deficiency anemia rarely causes serious or long-term complications, but it can impact people's every day lives. Some common issues are¹:

• Tiredness

• Increased risk of infections due to a lowered immune system

• Heart and lung problems, such as heart failure

• Pregnant women can experience complications, including babies being born prematurely or having a low birth weight as well as having problems with their iron levels

¹NHS, Iron deficiency anemia, accessed 5 May 2023