Bottom Line Health
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| WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
"Parents need to know that bottle-feeding their child too long can put the child at risk for iron deficiency and anemia," Brotanek explains.
"Iron deficiency and anemia are problems because they are associated with behavior and cognitive delays, and cause a fall in IQ scores, impaired learning and decreased school achievement," she says.
Right now, there are an estimated 3-8 million American children at risk for iron deficiency and anemia because they are being bottle-fed past 12 months of age, Brotanek says. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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 Inadequate iron will lead to anemia, where not enough hemoglobin is available to distribute oxygen adequately. iron deficiency may also cause you to lose your hair or cause you to have a headache. You may start to catch every bug that comes around and get infections more easily. Brittle nails are also a sign of iron deficiency. Like zinc, iron is a part of many essential enzyme reactions. It is needed for good immune system function and for the liver's ability to get rid of toxic substances. |
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN
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 Although the men did not suffer from iron deficiency, the women did. Thirty percent were diagnosed as anemic, and 50 percent as iron deficient— twice the levels of the non-vegetarian women. The researchers concluded that a "diet rich in soy and restricted in animal foods is limited in bioavailable iron" and "promotes iron deficiency."27 Summing up this study in the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Alan Gaby, M.D., advised vegetarians who eat a lot of soy to "be screened for iron deficiency and given iron supplements or dietary recommendations when necessary. |
Bottom Line Health
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| The researchers found that the prevalence of iron deficiency was 6% among Caucasian children, 8% among African-American children and 17% among Mexican-American children.
The study also found that the longer the duration of bottle-feeding, the higher the prevalence of iron deficiency among all children.
For those children who were bottle-fed less than 12 months, 3-8% were iron-deficient; of the children bottle-fed between 13 and 23 months, 11.5% were iron-deficient; and 12.4% of the children were iron-deficient if they were bottle-fed between 24 and 48 months. |
| Bottle-fed toddlers have a high risk of iron deficiency, which can lead to anemia and learning problems, according to the results of a new study.
THE STUDY
In the study, lead author Dr. Jane Brotanek, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, and her team collected data on 2,121 children, ages one to three years old, who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.
The researchers found that the prevalence of iron deficiency was 6% among Caucasian children, 8% among African-American children and 17% among Mexican-American children. |
Frederic Vagnini, M.D. and Barry Fox, Ph.D.
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 Without sufficient iron, we suffer from iron deficiency anemia, a condition that causes fatigue, dizziness, irritability, drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, and shortness of breath.
Some groups are more likely than others to develop iron deficiency anemia because they have increased needs for the mineral. They include premature infants, rapidly growing children, pregnant and lactating women, women with heavy periods, and people with bowel disease, which interferes with the absorption of nutrients.
Loss of blood is the most common reason for iron deficiency in adults. |
Hyla Cass
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| Inadequate iron will lead to anemia, where not enough hemoglobin is available to distribute oxygen adequately. iron deficiency may also cause you to lose your hair or cause you to have a headache. You may start to catch every bug that comes around and get infections more easily. Brittle nails are also a sign of iron deficiency. Like zinc, iron is a part of many essential enzyme reactions. It is needed for good immune system function and for the liver's ability to get rid of toxic substances. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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 Dietary lack appears as iron deficiency anemia immediately.
(d) Is needed daily in the diet.
81. During pregnancy, iron is most needed:
(a) In the prenatal period.
(b) In the first trimester.
(c) In the second trimester.
(d) In the third trimester.
82. The amount of iron in the body is controlled by:
(a) The kidneys.
(b) The bile.
(c) Varying absorption rates.
(d) Sweating.
83. Zinc is important for:
(a) Synthesis of insulin.
(b) Storage of insulin.
(c) Release of insulin.
(d) All of the above.
84. Zinc helps stabilize finger-like proteins by:
(a) Helping the proteins fold. |
| Which group is NOT at risk for iron deficiency anemia?
(a) Pregnant women.
(b) Children between 6 months and 4 years of age.
(c) Adolescent girls.
(d) Adults over 50 years of age.
7. Which form of iron is used in transport?
(a) Ferritin.
(b) Hemosiderin.
(c) Transferrin.
(d) None of the above.
8. Lowered absorption of iron is caused by:
(a) Vitamin C.
(b) Phytates.
(c) Low iron stores in the body.
(d) Fermented foods.
9. Iron absorption is NOT reduced by:
(a) Wine.
(b) Coffee.
(c) Lettuce.
(d) Tea.
10. Which form of iron found in supplements is poorly absorbed? |
| Anemia is one of the clinical signs of both copper deficiency and iron deficiency.
Iron supplementation has been found to interfere with the absorption of zinc supplements, but only on an empty stomach. Taken with food, iron does not interfere with zinc absorption. Most supplements are designed to be taken with food and this is one reason why. The iron in fortified food does not appear to inhibit zinc absorption.
Calcium can interfere with iron absorption when both nutrients are consumed together. The calcium and phosphorus in milk can reduce iron absorption. |
Andreas Moritz
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 If you have been diagnosed with anemia, your doctor may have told you that you suffer from iron deficiency and need to take iron supplements. The truth is, however, that the liver will limit the uptake of iron from food to a level below normal only if there is an underlying condition that requires blood iron to be low. For example, if the liver bile ducts are blocked and excessive iron cannot escape from the liver, the blood iron levels could reach toxic concentrations and cause hemochromatosis, a condition that can destroy the pancreas and liver. |
| The intake of "anti-nutrients" such as dietary fiber is greatly increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia.
• Depression, anorexia, low birth weight, slow growth, mental retardation, and amenorrhea are associated with deficiencies of zinc and, with the exception of amenorrhea, iron.
• Excess fiber consumption affects the onset of menstruation, retards uterine growth and, is associated with menstrual dysfunction.
Because of phytates, Dr. |
| Women naturally have a lower red blood cell count than men but medics use the same trigger levels for both men and women. "Iron deficiency anemia continues to be among the leading reasons for transfusions, even though it rarely warrants [them]," said the U.S. Office of Technology report in its concluding statement.
The standard hemoglobin trigger-level for justifying a transfusion lies at below ten gram (g) per 100 milliliters (ml) of blood. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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 Likewise, iron may have some favorable effects on immunity and exercise performance—but again, these benefits are most likely limited to those with acute or borderline iron deficiency. Iron supplementation has also been used for the following: Plummer-Vinson syndrome, malaria, herpes simplex outbreaks, pediatric diarrhea, intestinal helminth infection, microcephaly prophylaxis, and decreased thyroid function during very-low-calorie diets. contraindications
Iron supplements are contraindicated in patients with hemochromatosis and hemosiderosis. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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| Brittle nails are also a sign of iron deficiency. Like zinc, iron is a part of many essential enzyme reactions. It is needed for good immune system function and for the liver's ability to get rid of toxic substances.
Food sources of iron include liver, organ meats, fish, poultry, dried beans, vegetables, and whole grains. Consult with your doctor if you have iron-deficiency symptoms; he or she may recommend a higher dose. |
| Iron: In premenopausal women, depression may be a symptom of chronic iron deficiency anemia. Dose: Up to 15 mg daily.
• Magnesium: Deficiency in this mineral can result in depression, confusion, and anxiety. Dose: 250-500 mg daily.
• Vitamin C: Deficiencies in vitamin C can lead to depression. Stress, pregnancy, nursing, surgery, inflammatory disease, and infection will all deplete your vitamin C supply. So will aspirin, tetracycline, and birth control pills. Dose: 250-1,000 mg twice daily (it doesn't last long in the body, so it's best to take it twice). |
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. and Alan R. Gaby, M.D.
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 Iron Therapy
Although we know that heavy menstrual bleeding can result in iron-deficiency anemia, few doctors are aware that iron deficiency is itself a cause of menorrhagia. A vicious cycle can develop, in which heavy bleeding results in iron deficiency, which, in turn, makes the bleeding even worse.
When the uterine lining sheds at the end of each cycle, exposed blood vessels begin to leak blood, resulting in the menstrual flow. Normally, this bleeding is halted by the contraction of uterine muscles, which clamp down on the bleeding vessels. |
Tom Bohager
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 HAIR LOSS
Loss of hair or baldness may be the expression of your DNA, or it can be caused by many factors, including illness, skin disease, poor diet, poor circulation, diabetes, thyroid disease, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, pregnancy and the attendant hormonal changes, iron deficiency, drugs, and stress.
Although enzymes may not be able to combat the effects of a genetic predisposition to lose one's hair, they can be used to support the various systems of the body that may be involved with specific causes of hair loss. |
| Anemia can be caused by excessive blood loss, excessive red blood cell destruction, iron deficiency, and/or deficient red blood cell production. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, fatigue, pallor, headaches, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, bruising easily, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or frequent infections.
A blood test for anemia may show a low volume of blood, a low level of total red blood cells, or red blood cells of an abnormal size or shape (i.e., sickle cell anemia). Identifying the underlying cause of anemia through a complete diagnostic evaluation is essential. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
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| Vegetarians, adolescent girls, people who have bleeding ulcers, and pregnant women are all at increased risk for iron deficiency.
• People with hypochlorhydria are also at risk, as they don't absorb iron from foods very well.
• Chronic use of laxatives or inflammatory diseases of the colon (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis) may also increase iron needs.
• People who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and have intestinal bleeding may also become iron deficient. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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| Iron is also essential in energy production in the cell. iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world.
Quiz
Refer to the text in this chapter if necessary. A good score is at least 8 correct answers out of these 10 questions. The answers are listed in the back of this book.
1. Iron is needed for:
(a) Transport of oxygen in blood.
(b) Storage of oxygen in muscles.
(c) Energy production in the electron transport chain.
(d) All of the above.
2. Which is NOT part of the electron transport chain?
(a) Succinate dehydrogenase.
(b) Pyruvic acid. |
Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN
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| Prolonged infection can lead to serious symptoms such as iron deficiency (anemia) because the worms excessively suck blood from the intestinal tract. In some cases, the infection can lead to heart problems.
^•w**"*'^ riculty speaking, enlarged lymph glands,
Fig. xxni: Tnchneiic. viewed fatigue, and dehydration. Eating raw or under microspcope undercooked pork is usually the cause of Trichinella infection in humans. It is most common in areas where pigs are fed raw animal carcasses before being slaughtered for human consumption. |
Healing Children's Attention & Behavior DisordersDr. Abram Hoffer, M.D., FRCP(C)
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| It will also lead to iron deficiency. Half the iron deficiency in infants is a result of feeding infants cow milk. iron deficiency will make many babies irritable with impaired attention span. This has caused a common problem called the "blue bottle syndrome." The child walks about with a plastic bottle of milk from which he drinks now and then. When only glass bottles were available they would drop these so often and break them that mothers would stop giving them bottles. With plastic bottles there is no relief for the child. Blue bottle babies are usually iron deficient. |
Bill Sardi
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 Why did the doctors prescribe iron, when they should have given more thought to what was causing her iron deficiency? The anemia was caused by cancer, not by a lack of iron in her diet. What's more, iron is a primary growth factor for cancer! So not only did her doctors fail her by failing to detect the cause of her anemia, but by giving her high doses of iron they actually may have induced the tumors, thus accelerating her death.
I recall Conny singing a hymn on the front porch of my home in her last days. |
Mike Adams
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 For this reason, this section only covers iron deficiency and pernicious anemia, since preventing and treating them may be as simple as adding some supplements to your vitamin regimen.
Iron deficiency anemia is most common during childhood, adolescence and the later years of life. Additionally, heavy menstruation, pregnancy and lactation may cause anemia in women. During infancy, childhood and adolescence, the human body needs more iron than usual in order to support growth spurts. |
| Heavy menstruation is linked to iron deficiency anemia due to the excess blood loss, and pregnant and lactating women may become anemic due to their bodies' increased iron needs. Some people, especially elderly people, do not have enough stomach acid, making it difficult for their stomachs to properly digest and assimilate iron. This lack of stomach acid accounts for the high incidence of iron deficiency anemia in the elderly.
Iron supplements can prevent or cure anemia in some people. They will not fully help people who lack enough stomach acid to properly digest iron. |
Dr. Steve Blake
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| The Recommended Daily Allowance for Iron
The Food and Nutrition Board has set RDAs to prevent iron deficiency. Adequate Intake levels (AI) are set for younger infants, as seen in Table 11-1. Strict
Table 11-1 RDAs and adequate intakes (AI) for iron for all ages.
Males
Females
RDAs for Iron
Age mg/day mg/day
Infants
0-6 months
0.27 (AI)
0. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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| Clinical Management: Avoid chloramphenicol in patients receiving iron therapy for iron deficiency anemia.
Cholestyramine: Concurrent use may result in decreased iron effectiveness. Clinical Management: To prevent cholestyramine from binding dietary iron, separate administration of each drug by at least 4 hours.
Gossypol: Concurrent use may result in reduced iron absorption. Clinical Management: Increased iron dosage may be required by patients who take gossypol with iron supplements. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 However, because iron supplementation can exacerbate zinc depletion, supplementation is only warranted if iron deficiency is detected and routine iron supplementation during pregnancy is clearly indicated.69
If a woman gets sufficient iron in the first trimester of pregnancy, studies show a definite positive association with infant birth weight and size, although the same is not true for the second and third trimesters.34 Good food sources are almonds, honey, beets (including greens), and high-quality protein foods like egg yolks and organ meats (liver, kidney, heart), preferably organic. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
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| Whether to treat iron deficiency (ferritin <20 mcg/L) in the absence of anemia (hemoglobin 11 g/dL or greater) is controversial. Preliminary data from NHANES III demonstrate that the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in the United States is very low. There is no known benefit of high iron storage status, and some evidence exists that a moderate increase in iron stores is a possible risk factor for ischemic heart disease and cancer. The safe upper range of iron intake is difficult to specify due to the complexity of the Western diet and iron physiology (Lynch et al 1996). |
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