disorders of nutrition
Iron Deficiency
Causes of Iron Deficiency
In adults, iron deficiency is most commonly caused by Loss of blood In premenopausal women, monthly menstrual bleeding may cause the deficiency. In men and postmenopausal women, iron deficiency usually indicates bleeding, most often in the digestive tract—for example, from a bleeding ulcer or a polyp in the colon. Chronic bleeding due to colon cancer is a serious cause in middle-aged and older people. Disorders that interfere with absorption from the intestine ( Overview of Malabsorption ), such as celiac disease, can also cause iron deficiency. In adults, iron deficiency may be the first sign of Iron deficiency may result from an inadequate diet, primarily in infants and small children, who need more iron because they are growing. Adolescent girls who do not eat meat are at risk of developing iron deficiency because they are growing and starting to menstruate. Pregnant women are at risk of this deficiency because the growing fetus requires large amounts of iron. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are common among elite runners and triathlon athletes. People on Dialysis for kidney failure are routinely monitored for iron deficiency and may require iron injected into a vein (intravenously). 