Iron Deficiency Is a Complicated Condition

Iron deficiency can be caused by a variety of clinical conditions

Multiple factors may disrupt iron homeostasis and contribute
to iron deficiency in adult patients with CRI^3,6,9,a

• Iron deficiency can occur whenever the dietary iron intake is inadequate to meet the body’s demands³


• The presence of dietary or pharmacologic substances that interfere with iron uptake, such as antacid therapy and excess dietary bran, tannin, phytates, or starch, in addition to other causes resulting in inadequate absorption, are among the problems³
  
  
• Increased blood loss most often involves the gastrointestinal tract, but can also come from the genitourinary tract, lungs, phlebotomy, or other sources³
  
  
• Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) itself is often associated with abnormalities in iron utilization such as decreased levels of transferrin and blockage of iron release from macrophages⁶
  
  
• Other ways in which CRI can interfere with iron metabolism may be through a state similar to inflammation where inflammatory cytokines affect bone marrow; furthermore, hepcidin, a recently discovered peptide with a profound effect on iron absorption, may also interfere with iron uptake⁶
  
  
  

^aCRI and chronic kidney disease (CKD) refer to the same condition; terminology differs among medical specialties.

Now that you know about the Causes of Iron Deficiency, learn more about Diagnosing IDA.