Iron-deficiency Anemia

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia present in the world today. In the United States, only 2% of adult men have iron deficiency anemia, compared with as many as 20% of all women of childbearing age. The principal cause of iron deficiency anemia in premenopausal women is blood lost during the menstrual cycle.

Iron-deficiency anemia is the final stage of iron deficiency, when the body has insufficient iron for growth and development or to replace the amount lost. Iron deficiency ranges from iron depletion, which yields little physiological damage, to iron deficiency anemia, which can affect the function of numerous organ systems.

Iron-deficiency anemia is characterized by, fatigue weakness, and paleness. Because the condition tends to develop slowly, adaptation occurs and it often goes unrecognized for some time. In severe cases, shortness of breath can occur. If the cause is dietary iron deficiency, supplementation, usually with Iron (II) sulfate, can correct the anemia Iron is essential to all organisms, except for a few bacteria. Good sources of dietary iron include meat, fish, poultry, lentils, beans, spinach, tofu, chickpeas and black-eyed peas.

Below is the suggested daily Iron-intake:

Age	Infants & Children	Women	Pregnant	Breastfeeding
7 to 12 months	11 mg
1 to 3 years	7 mg
4 to 8 years	10mg
9 to13 years		8 mg	27mg	10mg
14 to18 years		15 mg	27mg	10mg
19 to 50 years		18 mg	27mg	9mg
51+ years		8 mg

Source: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/anemia.htm