Anaemia is commonly associated with iron deficiency, but it’s actually not just a lack of iron - anaemia can refer to other vitamin deficiencies as well. Anaemia is essentially a lack of red blood cells, which can be caused by various things, but low levels of iron is the most common reason. So when someone mentions anaemia, they’re usually talking about iron deficiency.
Anaemia can impact your health and lead to a decrease in quality of life, so treatment can be crucial. Changing your diet can help, but often supplements are also necessary to quickly increase your red blood cells.
Anyone can get anaemia, especially if their diets aren’t rich in nutrients and they live a sedentary lifestyle. But some population groups are more at risk of developing anaemia than others.
Age can also be a big factor. Infants and children, from the age of six months to two years, can be at risk if the milk that they drink or food they eat isn’t fortified with iron. Teens can be a risk group too, especially during growth spurts, as well as people over the age of 65.
Women between the ages of 14 and 50 need more iron than men of the same age, and can be at a greater risk of iron deficiency as a result. This can be especially true during heavy periods, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or shortly after delivering a baby.
Anaemia is a very common condition, but luckily it’s often curable with a combination of dietary changes and vitamin and mineral supplements.
According to NICE, iron deficiency anaemia (the most common type) is thought to affect half a billion people in the world. About 2-5% of men and postmenopausal women have it, and in women of reproductive age, it’s thought to be much higher – affecting 38% of pregnant women and 29% of non-pregnant women.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
How we source info.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
Iron-Deficiency Anemia | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). [online] Nih.gov.
Anaemia - iron deficiency: How common is it?
Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia. Gastroenterology & hepatology, 11(4), pp.241–50.
Iron Deficiency Anemia. [online]
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