Iron Deficiency Anemia Sara Merley Nutrition – Professor Brown

1. Iron Deficiency Anemia Sara Merley Nutrition – Professor Brown

2. Definition • Iron deficiency anemia is caused from a shortness of iron in the body. “[Iron] is a component of hemoglobin (which transports oxygen within red blood cells) and some enzymes” (Hoehn, Marieb). The iron-rich protein, hemoglobin, is essential to the transportation of oxygen to the body’s tissues. • http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Blood-Disorders/Anemia/5225.aspx • In America, there are over 3 million people effected by anemia.

3. Heme vs. Non-Heme HEME IRON – “Iron provided from animal tissues in the form of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Approximately 40% of the iron in meat is heme iron; it is readily absorbed” (Wardlaw). NON-HEME IRON – “Iron provided from plant sources and animal tissues other than in the forms of hemoglobin and myoglobin. Non-heme iron is less efficiently absorbed than heme iron; absorption is closely dependent on body needs” (Wardlaw).

4. Symptoms of IDA • Paleness or “Sallow Skin” • Extreme fatigue / lack of energy • Chest pain • Shortness of breath • Headaches • Feeling weak • Rapid heart rate • Sore or smooth tongue

5. Poor appetite / unusual cravings for non-nutritional substances such as ice or clay. • An uncomfortable crawling feeling in your legs • Cold hands and feet • Irritability • Brittle Nails

6. Common Causation of Iron-Deficiency Anemia • 1) Most predominately, lack of iron within the food one consumes. • 2) Blood Loss; most prevalent in women because of menstruation. • 3) Pregnancy; because of the increased blood volume and source of hemoglobin as the fetus grows. • 4) Inability to absorb the iron consumed into one’s bloodstream.

7. Population Distribution Because iron-deficiency anemia can simply be caused by lack of iron in the diet, it can happen at any time in a person’s life. There are factors in which it appears to be more common however: • Women with heavy menstrual bleeding. • Women whom are pregnant or breastfeeding with recently given birth. • People with a gastrointestinal disease such as Celiac or Crohn’s disease. • Vegetarians and Vegans.

8. Other Causes of IDA: • Hemorrhoids • Frequent blood donations • Intravascular Hemolysis (condition where RBC break down in the blood stream then causing a release of excess iron into the urine). • Stomach / Bowel Ulcers

9. Lack of Iron in One’s Diet;How much is enough? • Women 19-50 years old need to consume 18 milligrams per day. Men (all ages) and women over 50 only have to consume 8 milligrams. • Diet is one of the most prevalent ways of becoming iron-deficient anemic. Especially in women 19-50 whom do not consume a great deal of iron-rich foods.

10. Diagnosed, how much is enough? • In patients diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia it is recommended that they consume 2 – 5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day. • Still is highly advised to discuss the proper amount with one’s doctor.

11. Diagnosis Process • IDA is diagnosed through a blood test of a complete blood count; when someone is diagnosed the test results usually show: • Low hemoglobin and hematocrit • Low mean cellular volume • Low ferritin • Low serum iron • High transferrin • Low iron saturation

12. Iron-Rich Foods • Clams (3 ounces)  14 milligrams • Spinach (1 cup)  6.4 milligrams • Kidney Beans (1 cup)  5.3 milligrams • Pot Roast (4 ounces)  3.9 milligrams • Sirloin Steak (4 ounces)  3.8 milligrams • Garbanzo Beans (1/2 cup)  2.4 milligrams • Baked Potato (average 1)  1.7 milligrams

13. More general food overview • MEAT: beef or lamb; especially organs meats and dark meats. • FISH: primarily shellfish. • LEAFY GREENS: broccoli and turnip greens. • LEGUMES: Lima beans, peas, and black-eyed peas. • IRON-ENRICHED: pastas, grains, and cereals.

14. More Iron • Cook with a cast-iron pan; some of the iron will be absorbed into the food. IRON supplement; In my opinion, the best iron supplement is “Slow FE” since taking an iron supplement can cause constipation.

15. Absorption of Iron Vitamin C is extremely helpful to the absorption of iron. As one consumes iron, vitamin C will wrap around the iron ions protecting it against destruction from stomach acid; so that then the iron may reach the small intestine where it is absorbed in the duodenum and first part of the jejunum. Interesting fact: children are encouraged not to drink more than 16 to 24 ounces of cow’s milk per day because it can in turn, inhibit the absorption of iron.

16. Other treatment • Red blood cell transfusions – are performed for patients with severe iron-deficiency anemia. For example, severe bleeding, chest pain, and weakness. • Intravenous Iron – this is used for iron-deficient patients whom, have the tendency to not absorb iron well in the gastrointestinal tract, have extreme blood loss, are receiving a hormone that increases blood loss, or cannot tolerate taking an iron supplement.

17. DIET PLAN – DAY 1 • Breakfast – • Oatmeal (iron-enriched) • Fried egg (cooked on cast-iron pan) • SLOW FE iron supplement with 1 cup orange juice • 4 prunes • ½ cup blueberries SNACK – Handful of raw almonds and walnuts.

18. Lunch – • Spinach salad with: turkey, broccoli, and brown rice. • 1 Orange • Dinner – • Top sirloin steak • 1 baked potato • Peas and green peppers • Strawberries

19. DAY 2 • Breakfast – • Cheerios (iron-enriched) with cranberries. • 2 fried eggs (on cast-iron pan) • Strawberries • SLOW FE iron supplement with orange juice. SNACK – Cashews and almonds

20. Lunch – • Clams & Oysters • 1 baked potato • Cantaloupe • Dinner – • Beef Liver • Lentils • Broccoli • Prune Juice and blueberries

21. DAY 3 • Breakfast – • Oatmeal • Fried Eggs • Blueberries • SLOW FE iron-supplement with orange juice. SNACK – Chickpeas and broccoli

22. Lunch – • Bean soup (kidney & white beans) • Grapefruit • White bread toast Dinner – • Prime rib steak with sliced raw almonds • Baked potato • Green beans • Strawberries

23. QUESTIONS! (: • What is one very common cause of iron-deficiency anemia? • What are three foods that are high in iron? • What are three symptoms that could indicate a person has iron-deficiency anemia?

24. Bibliography Works Cited Marieb, Elaine N., and Katja Hoehn. "Chapter 2 and Chapter 17." Human Anatomy & Physiology. Eighth ed. San Francisco: Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2010. 26-642. Print. Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Iron-deficiency Anemia." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 04 Mar. 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/iron-deficiency-anemia/DS00323>. Tsang, Gloria. "Iron Rich Foods for Iron Deficiency Anemia." Nutrition Advice by Registered Dietitians. Healthcastle Nutrition Inc., 20 Feb. 2012. Web. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://www.healthcastle.com/iron.shtml>. Unknown. "American Society of Hematology." Iron-Deficiency Anemia. American Society to Hematology, 2011. Web. 03 Mar. 2012. <http://www.hematology.org/Patients/Blood-Disorders/Anemia/5263.aspx>. Wardlaw, Gordon M., and Anne M. Smith. "Chapter 9: Water and Minerals. Glossary." Contemporary Nutrition. Eighth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011. 347-78. Print.