Did you know that obesity can lead to iron deficiency, especially among adolescents? This surprising connection has been observed in both high-income and low-to-middle-income countries.
Obesity-related inflammation triggers excess production of a hormone called hepcidin. This hormone interferes with the absorption and excretion of iron in our bodies, leading to reduced iron levels in the blood. This can negatively impact the production of red blood cells and potentially cause anemia.
Interestingly, a study found that the risk for iron deficiency is twice as high in overweight adolescents compared to their normal-weight counterparts. This is not just a problem in high-income countries like the US, Greece, and Israel, but also in lower-income countries like Iran and China.
But does iron supplementation help? A study in South African overweight and obese children showed that BMI for age z-score (BAZ) before iron supplementation intervention was associated with a reduction in body iron after 8 months of supplementation. However, despite similar dietary iron intakes, the prevalence of iron deficiency was significantly higher in obese women and children compared with normal-weight subjects.
This highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling obesity and iron deficiency. It's not just about supplementing iron, but also about addressing the root cause - obesity.
Let's continue to raise awareness about this complex relationship between obesity and iron deficiency.