Why is iron important?
Iron is the main component of haemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule of the blood; it is also needed for energy production and brain development. For this reason, iron deficiency does not only lead to anaemia; even before deficiency reaches the level of anaemia, it can show effects such as fatigue, listlessness, and difficulty with attention and learning. The need for iron rises especially during periods of rapid growth.
Iron deficiency in children is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world and in Turkey. The good news is that in most cases it can be corrected with dietary adjustments and, where needed, treatment; for this reason, being aware of it is important.
Who is at risk?
Some periods and situations are higher risk for iron deficiency: rapidly growing infants (especially those fed only milk for a long time who move late to iron-rich complementary foods); young children who consume cow’s milk in excess; adolescent girls in whom rapid growth and menstrual bleeding have begun; children who do not eat meat or who have a very restricted diet; and young people who train intensively. In these groups, special attention to iron balance is needed.
Adolescent girls who have started menstruating are a particularly important group; regular blood loss raises the need for iron. Likewise, unbalanced or very restrictive eating habits raise the risk.
Iron balance through diet
Iron is found in foods in two forms: while iron from animal sources (red meat, chicken, fish) is absorbed more easily, iron from plant sources (pulses, green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, fortified grains) is absorbed less well. In children who do not eat meat, importance should be given to plant iron and to strategies that boost absorption.
There are practical tips that affect absorption: vitamin C (from citrus, tomatoes, peppers) clearly boosts the absorption of plant iron, so a vitamin-C-rich food alongside a meal of pulses is helpful. By contrast, drinking tea and coffee with a meal reduces iron absorption, so avoiding tea between meals — especially in children — is a good habit.
Symptoms and treatment
The symptoms of iron deficiency can be insidious: constant fatigue and listlessness, a pale appearance, a drop in attention and school performance, poor appetite, frequent infection and sometimes unusual food cravings (such as eating ice). These symptoms are not specific, so when in doubt, the diagnosis is made with a simple blood test.
Treatment is planned by a doctor according to the degree and cause of the deficiency; it may include dietary adjustments and, where needed, an iron supplement. An important warning: iron supplements should not be given routinely without a doctor’s advice — unnecessary or excess iron can be harmful. For this reason, both diagnosis and treatment should rest on a doctor’s assessment. Regular follow-up is also important once treatment begins: because refilling iron stores takes time, it is necessary to continue treatment for the period the doctor advises and to monitor the response with check-up tests. In addition, addressing the underlying cause of the deficiency (such as eating pattern or blood loss) is at least as important as treatment for preventing the problem from recurring.