Iron Deficiency Anemia Flashcards
What is iron important for?
The formation of haemoglobin.
What is haemoglobin responsible for?
Transporting oxygen around the body in red blood cells. A lack of iron can lead to iron deficiency anemia.
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia?
Weakness
Faintness
Dizziness
Lethargy
Headaches
Palpitations
Sore gums
Pale
Who does anaemia most commonly affect?
Growing children
Adolescents (particularly GIRLS)
Women
Older adults
Why must pregnant woman watch out for the anaemia?
Body may require additional iron.
What is haem iron?
Iron from animal sources that is readily absorbed by the body.
What are some examples of haem iron?
Animal sources
eg. liver, meat and fish
What is non haem iron?
Iron from non-animal sources that is less readily absorbed by the body, it needs to be paired with Vitamin C.
What are some examples of non haem iron?
Green leafy vegetables eg. spinach and kale
Pulses eg. lentils
Dried fruit eg. apricots
Fortified breakfast cereals
What chemical naturally found in fibre-rich foods can interfere with the absorption of iron?
Phytates
What chemical naturally found in tea can interfere with the absorption of iron?
Tannins
Why can introducing cows milk into a baby’s diet before the age of 1 lead to anaemia?
Cow’s milk is low in iron
Why are boys at risk of developing anaemia during the first stages of puberty?
Rapid growth
Why are girls at risk od developing anaemia?
Menstrual blood loss
Smaller iron stores
Why is it important to eat lots of haem iron to prevent anaemia?
It is readily absorbed by the body, doesn’t need to be paired with other vitamins.
Eg. red meat, offal and fish
