Iron in the body contains only 4-5 grams, although its biological role is priceless. It is a part of hemoglobin, carrying oxygen, enzymes performing protective functions, and muscle proteins responsible for active motions and strength. With a long inadequate intake of this microelement with food, latent or latent iron deficiency, detected only by laboratory tests, appears, and a clear, clinically pronounced iron deficiency forming symptoms of anemia.

The causes and conditions for the development of iron deficiency.

Deficiency of iron in the body is formed when the balance between intake and loss of iron is disturbed, when losses predominate. The main reasons for the deficit are:.

inadequate and iron-poor nutrition, vegetarianism, the predominance of dairy food, vegetable fiber, phytin, impeding the absorption of iron;.

diseases of the digestive system that disrupt the full absorption of iron and its assimilation;.

loss of blood in trauma, surgery, excessively heavy menstruation, gingival hemorrhage;.

frequent and prolonged infections, leading to depletion of iron stores and deterioration of its assimilation;.

increased costs of iron during critical periods (during pregnancy, during a period of active growth in children, in the elderly, with debilitating loads).

Latent iron deficiency is detected at the biochemical level, while iron deficiency is compensated by the stress of enzyme systems and the removal of iron from body stores. Clinically pronounced iron deficiency occurs when the reserves of the body are no longer sufficient, all stocks are depleted, and the intake of iron is insufficient to compensate for its losses.

Especially dangerous is iron deficiency in pregnant and lactating women, in young children and people engaged in heavy labor. They manifestations can develop rapidly and strongly.

Manifestations of iron deficiency.

The latent iron deficiency is determined only in the blood, while the red blood cells and hemoglobin may not decrease, but the total and iron binding ability of the serum changes, the level of certain specific enzymes decreases.

With an obvious deficit of iron, symptoms appear that make it possible to suspect anemia only in the general population. These include rapid fatigue with weakness, attacks of dyspnea and palpitations under normal loads, darkness in the eyes with dizziness, headaches with noise in the ears, pallor of the skin and visible mucous membranes.

There are also signs of tissue trophism:

dryness and peeling of the skin, nails and hair deteriorate, taste changes, there is a desire to eat chalk, ground or whitewash, mucous atrophy develops, mouth dryness, teeth become spoiled, stomatitis often.

The normal functioning of the digestive system is disrupted (gastritis, colitis, constipation), liver (DZHVP or hepatosis), cardiovascular (depression of pressure, palpitation) and nervous (sleep problems, apathy, memory loss) systems. Reduces resistance to infections.

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