---
title: "What You Need To Know About Iron"
entity: "blog"
canonical_url: "https://www.embernaturopathic.com/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-iron"
markdown_url: "https://www.embernaturopathic.com/llms/blog/what-you-need-to-know-about-iron"
lastmod: "2023-01-05T21:54:00.000Z"
---

Did you know that iron is one of the most prevalent nutrient deficiencies in the world? According to the World Health Organization, this deficiency affects around 2 billion people globally. That is a lot of people in the world not feeling their best.

When I was younger, I believed someone who was iron deficient in having one main symptom – fatigue. Over the years, I was astounded to learn all the symptoms that can come with this deficiency, incredibly how profound the mental health connection can be. Iron deficiency can present with one or more of the following: anxiety, depression, fatigue of unknown cause, restless legs, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, hair loss, brittle nails, and ADHD.

## Basics of Iron Deficiency 

Let’s start by breaking down the basics. Iron comes in 2 different forms, heme iron and non-heme iron. The difference is related to their structure and absorbability. Heme iron is found in animal protein, such as meat, seafood, and poultry and is more readily absorbed. Non-heme iron is mainly found in plant foods and has less absorbability.

There are two types of iron deficiency, one with adequate levels of hemoglobin and low ferritin (iron deficiency - ID), and one with low hemoglobin and low ferritin (iron deficiency with anemia - IDA). Specific values for these reference ranges depend on where you are in the world. Both types of iron deficiency can cause the symptoms discussed above. Women tend to be affected the most with ID and IDA because of menstruation. The largest cause by a long shot is abnormal uterine bleeding.

## Mental Health Connection

As mentioned previously, there is a big connection between iron deficiency (with or without anemia) and mental health. A very interesting cohort study was published in 2020, where all participants were free of a mental health diagnosis at baseline. Throughout the study, if you ended up in the iron-deficient anemic group, the risk of a mental health diagnosis was increased by 52%. Postpartum depression is a big issue that many women will face in their lifetime. According to a meta-analysis, women with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia were 1.66 times more likely to experience symptoms of depression (Moya 2022). This is such a big issue that the World Health Organization recommends routine iron supplementation until at least six weeks postpartum to improve health-related quality of life outcomes in this period.

## Conclusion

There are many consequences of iron deficiency that one can encounter, and it would be worth investigating if you have any of the symptoms mentioned above. If you are iron deficient or have iron deficiency anemia, often, diet is not enough to get you to an optimal state, and supplementation is needed. This is a conversation that is best to have with your healthcare provider, who will help determine the best course of action. If you have any questions, we are happy to help!