Iron Deficiency Anemia in Food Allergies & Celiac

It is not uncommon for individuals with food allergies and Celiac to struggle with Iron Deficiency Anemia.  My daughter, Michaela, spent months combating this anemia before finely getting a grip on it and keeping it under control.



Iron Deficiency Anemia is the most common form of anemia worldwide and in Celiac Disease.   GI bleed, heavy menses, and lack of iron in the diet are major contributors of insufficient iron absorption, which results in decreased formation of hemoglobin, leading to a low red blood cell count.  It's important to note here, that parasitic infection (hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms) can lead to GI bleeding resulting in undetected blood loss in the stool, hence a case of anemia.



When the body has a sufficient amount of iron to meet the body's needs, it is referred to as Functional Iron.  Any remaining iron is stored in the bone marrow, liver, and spleen for future use.  Iron Depletion occurs when the body pulls on the stored iron, but doesn't drastically affect the functional iron of the body.  Problems begin when a person doesn't have any stored iron to draw from and they require more iron than what they are absorbing from their diet.



When someone has Celiac and continues to ingest gluten, their intestinal villa become damaged, decreasing the absorption of iron from foods that are being eaten.  Food allergies can also lead to Iron Deficiency Anemia by loss of iron in the stool, poor absorption (not getting the full nutrient value from foods eaten), and diarrhea. 



Although iron plays many roles in our body, one of it's important roles is to carry oxygen to our body cells and bring carbon dioxide away.  That is why there is an array of signs and symptoms when our iron level is depleted.  The most common signs and symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia are pallor, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, rapid heart rate, palpitations, and the feeling of the body being cold all  or most of the time.  The fact that this particular type of anemia tends to develop slowly over time, allows for the body to adapt making diagnosis difficult in some cases.



The most common blood tests used to diagnose Iron Deficiency Anemia are CBC-Complete Blood Count to determine the level of HGB (hemoglobin) in the blood and if low is indicative of anemia.  The CBC will also reveal the red blood cell, white blood cell, and HCT (hematocrit) count and/or level.  The CBC is normally the first test utilized to determine if there is a diagnosis of Iron Deficiency Anemia to be made, but there are also other tests that may be done to determine the amount of iron stored in the body and to confirm diagnosis.



Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anemia depends on the severity of the anemia and ranges from changes in diet and supplements to surgery and blood transfusions.  The goal of treatment is to attack the primary cause of the anemia, restoring iron, hemoglobin, and RBC's back to their normal, healthy level.  This is done through many channels.


Change of diet.  Red meats are the best source of iron, especially beef and liver.  I know, the response to liver is usually YUK!   But pork, fish, turkey, chicken and shellfish also are a source of iron.  If you are a vegetarian, this may compound the problem of obtaining enough iron to support your body functions.
          Other foods that provide iron are:

* dark, green, leafy vegetables, especially spinach

* peanuts, peanut butter, and almonds

* eggs

* white (lima), red, and baked beans; lentils; and peas

* dried fruits

* potato with the skin

* fruit juice, especially prune juice

* Goji Berries ( which have been found to deliver up to 15 times more iron than spinach)

Iron can be found in other food items within the ingredients.  You can find the percentage of iron by checking the Nutritional Facts on the label.

Vitamin C- this vitamin aids in the body's absorption of iron.  Vitamin C can be found in fruits and vegetables.  Fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables, and juices will often have more Vitamin C than when buying in the can.
Bleeding- if bleeding is the cause of your Iron Deficiency Anemia, the measures must be taken to correct what is causing the bleeding.  For example, if you are having heavy menses, your physician may order birth control pills to help reduce your monthly blood flow.
Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia-  in severe cases of anemia, a blood transfusion may be required.  This is an immediate treatment for the anemia, but is also only a short term treatment.  Your physician will work to find and treat the cause of the anemia.
Incorporating an Iron Supplement-this step should restore iron levels relatively quickly, usually within two to three months, but should only be taken as prescribed by your physician.  Taking excessive amounts of iron can be harmful to your body.  If you are taking an iron supplement, you are likely to see some side effects.  More common side effects are dark stools, stomach irritation, and heartburn.  Your physician may recommend a stool softener to counteract any constipation caused by the iron intake.
Daily Multi-Vitamin- taking a multi-vitamin on a daily basis can help maintain your iron level in your body.  It is not difficult for anyone who does not have food allergies and/or Celiac to go to the store and purchase a multi-vitamin that provides iron.  But, what do you do when you do have food allergies and/or Celiac.  Finding a multi-vitamin that is gluten and allergy free can be tricky.
          After my daughter's experience with taking a iron supplement, and then searching for an allergy and gluten free multi-vitamin, I can recommend Chews4Health.  This is a chewable multi-vitamin that is free from gluten and allergens and has maintained Michaela's iron level starting with the eighth days after initially taking the vitamins.  We have been so pleased with the results of this product, that my son is now a distributor for this company and the above link will take you to his web site.



Has anyone else that has food allergies and/or Celiac had a battle with anemia?  What product have you found to be helpful in maintaining your iron level?







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