Synonyms
SideropeniaEnglish: iron deficiencyIron deficiency, or sideropenia, is a deficiency of iron in the human body that can be caused by various factors and is usually without symptoms. If symptoms of iron deficiency occur before anemia, this is called sideropenia. Depending on the symptoms and blood values, different forms of iron deficiency can be distinguished. A latent iron deficiency means reduced iron without changes in blood count, while a manifest iron deficiency is accompanied by changes in blood cells and requires therapy.
Epidemiology/frequency distribution
Iron deficiency is one of the most common deficiency diseases. Worldwide, about 25% of the population suffers from this deficiency disease. In Europe about 10% of women of childbearing age are affected, in developing countries >50% of women. In addition, iron deficiency accounts for about 80% of all anemias (anaemia).
Symptoms of iron deficiency
Subtle iron deficiency does not necessarily cause directly noticeable symptoms and is only manifested in the blood by a lowered ferritin value (latent iron deficiency). However, there are a number of different signs that can indicate a deficiency at an early stage before the full picture develops. Frequently occur.
In this context, physical fitness may also be impaired. A limited cold tolerance can also be added. Other possible early signs can be found in the area of the skin and mucous membranes.
These include tongue burning, mucous membrane defects (e.g. aphthae in the mouth), corner of the mouth rashes (small, inflammatory tears in the corners of the mouth), difficulty swallowing, but also brittle and deformed nails (especially transverse grooves, upwardly curved watch glass nails or hollow nails that have sunk in a trough) as well as brittle or falling hair. and iron deficiency in the fingernail
- Concentration disorders
- Headaches
- Emotional irritation
- Depressive moods
- Persistent tiredness or
- Lassitude
- Burning at the tip of the tongue
Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common form of anaemia and is caused by a lack of iron. The red blood pigment (hemoglobin) in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) needs iron to perform its function as an oxygen transporter in the body; if too little iron is available, this function is restricted and not enough hemoglobin can be provided.
In the laboratory, in addition to a reduced haemoglobin value in the blood, a reduced size of the erythrocytes (MCV = mean erythrocyte individual volume) and a reduced haemoglobin content in them (MCHC = mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) are evident. In this context, one also speaks of microcytic hypochromic anemia. At the same time, the iron deficiency in the blood is manifested by a reduced concentration of both free iron and ferritin (storage form of iron), but also by an increased transferrin value (transport protein for iron, which is more detectable when it has bound less iron).
If iron deficiency anemia has been diagnosed, the cause of the iron deficiency must be identified in order to be able to treat it accordingly. Possible causes are an increased need (e.g. during pregnancy), an increased loss (e.g. through bleeding), a poor diet or a disturbed iron intake (e.g. in various gastrointestinal diseases). Only when the body’s iron stores are depleted does iron deficiency lead to anaemia.
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