Search
iron-deficiency
Classfication:
- absolute iron deficency defined as serum ferritin < 30 ng/mL regardless of transferrin saturation [3]
- functional iron deficiency defined as serum ferritin >= 30 ng/mL with transferrin saturation < 20% [3]
Etiology:
- higher body-mass index associated with higher risk of functional iron deficiency [3]
- no evidence to support dietary iron intake, food security, or alcohol use association with iron deficiency
- heart failure, chronic kidney disease
- blood loss, iron-deficiency anemia
- pregnancy
Epidemiology:
- absolute iron deficiency (11-14%)*
- functional iron deficiency (15%)*
* adults >= 18 years (men & women considered together)
Pathology:
- associated with iron-deficiency anemia
- iron deficiency without anemia is common in competetive athletes
- decreased physical capacity, impaired neurocognitive function [3]
- restless legs syndrome associated with iron deficiency laboratory:
- serum ferritin < 30 ng/ml in an athlete makes diagnosis according to [1,2]
- serum iron & transferrin saturation unnecessary for diagnosis [1]*
* no evidence is presented to support this claim
Management:
- oral iron replacement [1,2]
- 100 mg of elemental iron/day [1]*
- multivitamins containing iron do not have enough iron to replace iron stores [1]*
- weight loss in obese patients improves iron status
* no evidence is presented to support these claims
Specific
iron-deficiency anemia
General
mineral deficiency
References
- NEJM knowledge+ hematology
- Burden RJ, Morton K, Richards T et ak
Is iron treatment beneficial in, iron-deficient but non-anaemic (IDNA) endurance
athletes? a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Br J Sports Med. 2015 Nov;49(21):1389-97.
pmid: 25361786 review.
- Tawfik YMK, Billingsley H, Bhatt AS et al
Absolute and functional iron deficiency in the us, 2017-2020..
JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Sept 3;7(9):e2433126.
PMID: 39316402