Iron2026

An Updated Review on Iron Deficiency Anemia: From Epidemiology to Diagnosis, Etiology, Prevention and Treatment.

Ahmad Abdul Momin Rizwan, Ashraf Zainab, Awan Maira Ahsan, Shah Syed Hassan Bin Usman et al. — Journal of blood medicine

Summary

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a very common global health problem, affecting over a billion people worldwide and causing symptoms like fatigue and weakness. This comprehensive review summarizes what causes IDA, such as low iron intake or blood loss, and outlines various ways to prevent and treat it, including dietary changes and supplements. It highlights the urgent need for effective and affordable solutions to tackle this widespread condition.

AI-generated summary — read the original

Key points

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread global health issue, affecting over a billion people.
Common symptoms of IDA include fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, while causes range from poor diet to chronic blood loss.
Long-term IDA can lead to serious health complications, including heart problems and bone disorders.
Prevention strategies for IDA include eating a varied diet, taking iron supplements, and consuming fortified foods.

What the study looked at

This review aimed to provide an up-to-date summary of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), covering its global impact, how it's identified, what causes it, and strategies for prevention and treatment. Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of existing scientific literature on IDA. They gathered and synthesized information from numerous studies to present a broad overview of the current understanding of the condition, rather than conducting new experiments. The review highlighted that IDA is a widespread global health issue, affecting approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide and accounting for two-thirds of all anemia cases. It detailed common symptoms such as persistent tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath, and identified primary causes like insufficient dietary iron intake, impaired iron absorption, increased iron requirements, or chronic blood loss. The paper also discussed various serious health complications linked to long-term iron deficiency, including cardiovascular issues and bone disorders, and emphasized key prevention methods such as dietary diversification, iron supplementation, and food fortification. It concluded by stressing the urgent need for effective, affordable global interventions to address IDA.

Dietary takeaway

To help prevent iron deficiency, focus on a varied diet rich in iron from both animal sources (like lean red meat and poultry) and plant sources (like beans, lentils, spinach, and fortified cereals). Pairing iron-rich foods with vitamin C sources (such as citrus fruits or bell peppers) can enhance absorption. Remember that this is a review of many studies, and while its findings are important, individual dietary needs can vary, so consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) accounts for two-thirds of all anemias worldwide, affecting around 1.2 billion people globally. For the diagnosis of iron deficiency, a bone marrow aspiration sample study is considered the gold standard. Individuals with IDA may experience fatigue, weakness, poor productivity, tachycardia, dyspnea, headaches, tinnitus, vertigo, skin pallor, cheilosis and koilonychia. The most common causes of IDA are deficiency of iron (caused by low iron intake, impaired iron absorption, increased iron requirements or chronic blood loss), helicobacter infection and hookworm infection. Complications associated with IDA include cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disorders, stunting, thyroid problems, bariatric surgery, GI tract malignancy, and psychiatric/psychological disorders. Four major strategies for prevention and/or management of IDA include dietary diversification, iron supplementation, biofortification and food fortification. There is a dire need to devise cost-effective contextual interventions to effectively address the problem of IDA at a global level.

View on PubMed →DOI: 10.2147/JBM.S612806