What Causes Low Blood Iron?

[mitsuki lover]

Ok this is a question for technomancer and all the other scientist/scientist wannabes out there.So here goes,the last couple times I have gone to the bloodbank I was turned down for having low iron in my blood.My question therefore is what causes it?

[ShiroiHikari]

Um...sounds like anemia...I guess it's from not having enough iron in your diet.

[Esoteric]

Yeah, that does sounds like anemia=low red blood cell count. It can be caused by medical disorders and certain medications, but primarily, I think, by a diet too low in iron. If this is something recent, you might want to have some blood work done to make sure it's only a dietary deficiency.

[K. Ayato]

Not eating meat is another reason.

[Shriike]

wow, Ayato beat me to the punch, was getting ready to type, loggin in, ohwell, yeah not enough meat can cause your iron count to be lower, most likely that's what it is, if your going to a blood bank, if it was dangerously low they'd tell you probobly

[K. Ayato]

I know that, 'cause one time I was gonna donate blood and I hadn't eaten meat in a while. One of the preliminary procedures they do before you can actually donate blood is check your iron levels. They tested me, and my blood went down to the bottom of the jar they use for testing, only it was slow. I was still able to donate. From then on, I made sure I ate enough meat.

[Roy Mustang]

Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

Symptoms of Anemia

Often, no symptoms
Paleness
Feeling tired
More shortness of breath during exercise
Fast heartbeat
Symptoms usually come on slowly so that you feel no sudden change in your energy level

What can be the cause that the body may not make enough iron in the blood.

Having low vitamin B12 or folic acid intake can have a low level iron in the blood.


Wingzero22

[Slater]

yeah, Anemia is what RESULTS from low blood iron, not what causes it. An educated guess would say low iron in your diet. Try eating more Frosted Flakes

[Jingo Jaden]

I think an inncreased anoumt of brocoli (sp) is one of the best solutions.

[Roy Mustang]

There is one thing that I forgot to point out. You can have a low hemoglobin level and not be Anemia.


food sources of vitamin B12

Mollusks, clam, mixed species, cooked, 3 ounces

Liver, beef, braised, 1 slice

Fortified breakfast cereals, (100%) fortified), ¾ cup

Trout, rainbow, wild, cooked, 3 ounces

Salmon, sockeye, cooked, 3 ounces

Trout, rainbow, farmed, cooked, 3 ounces

Beef, top sirloin, lean, choice, broiled, 3 ounces

Fortified breakfast cereals (25% fortified), ¾ cup

Yogurt, plain, skim, with 13 grams protein per cup, 1 cup

Haddock, cooked, 3 ounces

Clams, breaded & fried, ¾ cup

Tuna, white, canned in water, drained solids, 3 ounces

Milk, 1 cup

Pork, cured, ham, lean only, canned, roasted, 3 ounces

Egg, whole, hard boiled, 1

American pasteurized cheese food, 1 ounces

Chicken, breast, meat only, roasted, ½ breast

food sources of Folic acid

Beans and legumes

Citrus fruits and juices

Wheat bran and other whole grains

Dark green leafy vegetables

Poultry, pork, shellfish

Liver



Wingzero22

[Ingemar]

Google or Wiki "Iron Response Elements".

[termyt]

Iron is like any other vitamin/mineral your body needs. You must ingest it. Some people have difficulty retaining iron and should seek medical attention. It could be that you diet just lacks sufficient iron for your body's needs. If that's the case, try taking a dietary supplement.

[Lunis]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think ML has low blood iron because Magneto sucked it all out of him.

*is boo'd off the thread* \ToT/

[indyrocker]

*gives you a cast iron skillet* eat this! Actualy if you cook things in a cast iron skillet it does add a small amout of iron to whatever you are cooking.

[K. Ayato]

It's not enough, though.

[mitsuki lover]

Well I have to go to the doctor on Monday to get my prescription renewed for the year so I can ask him about it then.
For the record my iron level was 12.0 the last time and 11.9 this time,if I forgot to mention it.

[Yeshua-Knight]

another good source of iron -> bran flakes

[mitsuki lover]

Well I didn't get an answer yesterday but I did end up having to go back to the hospital today to get an ultra sound of my throat because there's a lump around where my adam's apple is.The tech said the radiologist will come in on thursday and take a look at the test results and then give his report to the doctor.

[termyt]

Ugh. I hope it's nothing serious.

[dyzzispell]

Thalassemia is another possibility. I know, cause I have it, and my iron levels are not as high as they should be.

Fortunately though I only have beta-thalassemia, so it's not real serious.

[mitsuki lover]

Well as far as I know my ancestors were all from northwest Europe and never got anywhere near the Mediterranean where according to the information thalassemia appears to be most common.Then again one can never really know as I suspect there might be a Roman or two hiding in the bushes of the family tree somewhere.
That still doesn't explain the lump though,and I wonder if there is a connection somehow between the two,low blood iron and the lump on my throat.

[HisaishiFan]

The low iron thing at the blood bank happens to me all the time. Then they take some blood, spin it in the centrifuge, sometimes I pass, sometimes not. Will be praying about your dx, that it is nothing serious. Keep us posted!

[Starfire1]

i don't know what causes it but i hear that molasses is good for raising low iron levels.

[Esoteric]

Hmm, yes, I hope it's not serious...sounds like the location of the thyroid gland...which does effect metabolism...let us know what they find out...

[mitsuki lover]

Well hope to hear from the doctor about it sometime soon though don't know when.
It's near the Adam's Apple and so above where the thryoid is.Though both of my sisters also had problems with their thyroid glands so it may be something that is genetic.