Low iron values. Why?

Almost every third woman has low iron values. The risk is especially high if menstruation lasts longer than three days, during pregnancy and lactation. During menstruation the woman loses an average of 35-40 mg of iron, or around 10 mg per day.

This is why women need more iron than men. The symptoms of iron depletion are so common that they aren´t always recognised. Except for weakness and shortage of breath it also affects appearance. The skin grows pale and hair and nail lose strength and luster.

Iron deficiency often gives the following symptoms:

• Tiredness, fatigue, passivity and drowsiness
• Concentration difficulties and increased need for sleep
• Impaired performance
• Lessened learning ability

Good reason to check ferritin levels, not only Hb

An ordinary Hb-test says nothing about stored iron. The iron stores of the body are measurable with a so-called serum ferritin count. This is also a standard test. When serum ferritin lies above 30 ug/l the iron stores are full.

In a comparative study vegetarians had lower serum ferritin levels, but comparative Hb-levels as omnivores. This was because the Hb-levels do not start to drop before the reserves are running out.

Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world. As well as affecting a large number of children and women in developing countries, it is the only nutrient deficiency which is also significantly prevalent in industralized countries.

Hidden iron deficiency

- A real problem in company health care

”You have to remember that general symptoms start to occur only when reserves are empty and the Hb-levels drop drastically. That's why it's very important to check serum ferritin levels as well.” says Dr Lars Ehn, MD in Stockholm. This is a question for workplace health care mainly. If and when a hard-working woman gets fatigued from iron deficiency without being aware of it the results can be quite serious. Stress and burn-outs all too common these days.

Research for preventing iron depletion anemia has been going on since the 1960:ies, mainly focusing on blood-donors and the pregnant. One of the pioneers is Dr. Lars Ehn. He has shown that heme iron preparations are more safe and efficient than traditional high-dose iron tablets. He is one of those who have developed new iron preparations through studies.

”I have a number of patients that have taken heme iron preparations for years. They have kept a satisfactory iron balance without the unfortunately all-too-common side effects that are often assocated with iron preparations”.

Company health care needs to be aware

Today he works in the company health care sector where there are a large number of iron deficient female patients. Many have a hidden iron defiency i.e. normal Hb but very small or no body iron reserves.

This especially if she bleeds more than three days in menstruation. The iron depots are tested by measuring serum ferritin levels.

Dr Lars-Göran Kjellin, medically responsible at the Curera clinic in Stockholm and Solna Läkarcenter is another of many satisfied doctors who use heme iron tablets for their patients.

”This is an excellent and welcome complement to current iron preparations. Too many patients can't handle the usual iron medications due to side-effects in the form of stomach problems.

When we put them on heme iron tablets serum iron and hemoglobin readings are corrected and they become free from symptoms. In our company care health examinations of we check women for hidden iron deficiency among other things. This is surprisingly often the case in patients with fatigue symptoms. When they get medication blood iron levels return to normal and the patients feel better without side-effects.”

Web: www.optifer.international and www.hemeiron.com

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