Faced as we are with an infectious and mutating agent of illness, the allied focus on nutritional needs has been to identify foods and nutritional concentrates that confer an immunological advantage[1]. Covid-19 does not treat us equally. Undernourished people have weaker immune systems and may be at greater risk of severe illness due to the virus.
Because iron deficiency degrades non-specific immunity, your body’s first line of defence against pathogens, you are more vulnerable to infection and disease, and other health complications[2]. In fact, frequent infections are a lesser-known symptom of iron deficiency. At the same time, poor metabolic health, including obesity and diabetes, is strongly linked to worse Covid-19 outcomes, including risk of hospitalisation and death[3].
Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)
In summary, iron deficiency anaemia is a global health concern affecting children, women and the elderly, whilst also being a risk factor for infection and a common comorbidity in multiple medical conditions. Yet many practitioners and clinicians forget that it is literally the most common nutrient deficiency in the world[4].
IDA aetiology is variable and has been attributed to several risk factors decreasing iron intake and absorption or increasing demand and loss, with multiple aetiologies often coexisting in an individual, compounding the ease of discovery.
Although presenting symptoms may be nonspecific, there is emerging evidence on the detrimental effects of IDA on clinical outcomes across several medical conditions. Re-exploring and increased awareness about the consequences and prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia should aid early detection and management.
Most IDA patients are asymptomatic and identified through a blood test. Pallor is the most important clinical sign, but it is not usually visible unless haemoglobin falls below 7 g/dL to 8 g/dL or below the averages of 35.5 and 44.9 percent for adult women and 38.3 to 48.6 percent for adult men.
A thorough history may reveal fatigue, a decreased ability to work, shortness of breath, or worsening congestive heart failure. Children may have cognitive impairment (as may adults) and developmental delays[5]. Naturally, detailed questions regarding diet as well as asking about any bleeding from menorrhagia or gastrointestinal sources are the minimum. The physical exam may reveal pale skin and conjunctiva, resting tachycardia, congestive heart failure, and occult blood-positive stool.
Pernicious anaemia
Iron, vitamin B12 and folate are required for essential metabolic functions. Deficiency states of these nutrients, either singly or in combination, are also common clinical findings.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency anaemia is a condition in which the body does not produce enough healthy red blood cells because of a lack of vitamin B-12. Which, whilst not as frequent a deficiency as iron, some 20% of the population are estimated to have marginal or profound insufficiency[6]. These cells are essential to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Without enough red blood cells, tissues and organs become oxygen deficient.
Folic acid or folate is another B vitamin in which a deficiency state commonly occurs. Either a lack of vitamin B-12 or a lack of folate causes a type of anaemia called megaloblastic anaemia or pernicious anaemia.
Iron deficiency without anaemia (IDWA)[7]
It is estimated that iron deficiency without anaemia is twice as common as with[8]. Diagnosing IDWA relies on a combination of tests, including haemoglobin and ferritin levels, as well as transferrin saturation.
Once identified, treatment should include supplementation and nutritional advice with the aim to consume meat, poultry, or fish at least five times a week, with complementary wholemeal products, legumes, and vegetables, and if vegetarian or vegan, specific direction needs to be given[9].
Oral supplementation of iron
Oral iron is associated with gastrointestinal side effects such as constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, and nausea, which have been associated with poor adherence[10]. Using single doses on alternate days as opposed to multiple doses on consecutive days has been shown to result in higher absorption and better regulation of the hormone hepcidin levels in iron-depleted individuals.
Hepcidin controls the amount of iron in the body by blocking absorption of dietary iron. The more hepcidin produced, the less iron is absorbed from the diet.
After one iron tablet, hepcidin concentrations rise sharply, stopping the absorption of a second iron tablet if it is taken the same day or even the next day. Further enhancements can be made by consuming iron supplements with vitamin C alongside, albeit that some people are able to manage iron uptake without ascorbic acid assistance[11]. Ascorbate modulates iron metabolism by stimulating ferritin synthesis, inhibiting lysosomal ferritin degradation, and decreasing cellular iron efflux. In short, ascorbate is a regulator of mammalian iron metabolism and homeostasis[12].
Iron is best absorbed when taken on an empty stomach with a full glass of water or orange juice. If the client experiences an upset stomach, iron can be given with food or immediately after meals. But note when taken with meals iron absorption decreases to 40%[13].
Conclusion
It is also worth recalling that it is not only red blood cells that need iron. When we make an immune response to an infection or a vaccine, the white blood cells that fight infection and make antibodies also need iron. As such, whilst supplementation with Vitamins A, D, E, B, C and minerals including zinc and magnesium have been reported to be essential for immune enhancement and post exposure via wild type Sars Cov-2, vaccination or both. It has been easy to forget the essential and commonly deficient mineral – iron[14].
References
[1] Calder PC Nutrition, immunity and COVID-19 BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2020;3
[2] Dev S, Babitt JL. Overview of iron metabolism in health and disease. Hemodial Int. 2017;21 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S6-S20. doi:10.1111/hdi.12542
[3] https://globalnutritionreport.org/reports/2020-global-nutrition-report/2020-global-nutrition-report-context-covid-19/
[4] GBD 2016 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 [published correction appears in Lancet. 2017 Oct 28;390(10106):e38]. Lancet. 2017;390(10100):1211-1259. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32154-2
[5] Doets EL, Ueland PM, Tell GS, Vollset SE, Nygård OK, Van’t Veer P, de Groot LC, Nurk E, Refsum H, Smith AD, Eussen SJ. Interactions between plasma concentrations of folate and markers of vitamin B(12) status with cognitive performance in elderly people not exposed to folic acid fortification: the Hordaland Health Study. Br J Nutr. 2014 Mar 28;111(6):1085-95.
[6] Lindsay H Allen, How common is vitamin B-12 deficiency?, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 89, Issue 2, February 2009, Pages 693S–696S
[7] Al-Naseem A, Sallam A, Choudhury S, Thachil J. Iron deficiency without anaemia: a diagnosis that matters. Clin Med (Lond). 2021 Mar;21(2):107-113. doi: 10.7861/clinmed.2020-0582. PMID: 33762368; PMCID: PMC8002799.
[8] Kassebaum NJ, Jasrasaria R, Naghavi M, et al. A systematic analysis of global anemia burden from 1990 to 2010. Blood 2014;123:615–24.
[9] Angela V Saunders, Winston J Craig, Surinder K Baines and Jennifer S Posen Iron and vegetarian diets Med J Aust 2013; 199 (4): S11-S16
[10] Baird-Gunning J, Bromley J. Correcting iron deficiency. Aust Prescr. 2016;39(6):193-199. doi:10.18773/austprescr.2016.069 /
[11] Li N, Zhao G, Wu W, et al. The Efficacy and Safety of Vitamin C for Iron Supplementation in Adult Patients With Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(11)
[12] Darius J.R. Lane, Des R. Richardson, The active role of vitamin C in mammalian iron metabolism: Much more than just enhanced iron absorption!, Free Radical Biology and Medicine,Volume 75, 2014,Pages 69-83,
[13] A.L. Lopez, P. Cacoub, I.C. Macdougall, L Peyrin-Biroulet Iron deficiency anemia Lancet, 387 (2016), pp. 907-916
[14] Hariyanto TI, Kurniawan A. Anemia is associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Transfus Apher Sci. 2020;59(6):102926. doi:10.1016/j.transci.2020.102926
4 Comments. Leave new
Hi
So which iron tablet would you suggest for an iron deficient person, with thalessima minor struggling with low energy and high TSH (11.5)
A well tolerated iron supplement is Fe-Zyme by Biotics Research. The form of iron is bisglycinate which does not tend to lead to digestive issues. This supplement also provides vitamin C which enhances the absorption of iron, and it contains other nutrient co-factors for countering anaemia: B12, zinc, copper. One tablet per day is suggested.
With the TSH being high at 11.5 in the range of 0.5 – 4.0, this reflects that there is too low a level of thyroid hormone (T3) and possibly the pro-hormone, thyroxine (T4). There is a strong association of anaemia with hypothyroidism and when the anaemia is corrected, the activity and levels of thyroid hormone often improve or resolve without any direct thyroid support.
However, for immediate support of the thyroid there are two supplements to consider to support the levels whilst the iron levels and anaemia improves. These are GTA Forte II and Thyrostim both by Biotics Research. The first is a thyroid glandular to be taken 1 with breakfast, and the Thyrostim is a multi nutrient formula with glandulars specifically to support thyroid hormone function. Both are indicated when the TSH is too high and the levels of thyroid hormone are less than ideal. The suggested dose of Thyrostim is 1 with breakfast and lunch.
I hope this proves to be helpful advice.
Antony Haynes BA Hons, Registered Nutritionist MBANT
Hi
So, I have to have 3 monthly B12 injections. Do you have an iron supplement and how often would you recommend it taken as I already struggle with constipation despite what I would consider a relatively healthy clean diet and drink 3 litres of filtered water daily.
Very interesting article. Thank you for highlighting the importance of iron – I sort of new this but avoid it due to constipation issues. I do add seaweed products to my diet but I doubt this is enough.
Mary
Hello Mary
And thank you for your comments and questions to the iron deficiency article.
There are 3 points to this reply 1) vitamin B12 status and supplements, 2) a non-constipating form of iron, 3) a few suggestions for supporting comfortable, daily bowels.
1) Having worked with a number of clients who have pernicious anaemia (a vit B12 deficiency anaemia), it has been found that for some of those who need B12 injections to simply feel ‘normal’ on a regular basis, the taking of a B12 supplement can reduce the frequency need for the injections. There are two B12 supplements that I have recorded to achieve this outcome, the B12 2000 Lozenge (Biotics Research) and the B12 Methylcobalamin (Allergy Research) lozenge. Both are best kept in the mouth until fully dissolved. It is not possible to say which works best, or if either would impact your need for B12 injections, but I would select the B12 Methylcobalamin (AR) in the first instance and take 1 lozenge after breakfast and lunch. The need for B12 may be entirely separate from the need for iron; each case needs to be assessed on its own basis, and just because B12 is needed does not automatically mean you need iron in supplement form. Simple blood testing would reveal the need for iron (e.g. low haemoglobin, low RBCs, low iron).
2) Nutri-Link do supply a non-constipating form of iron called Fe-Zyme (Biotics Research). The form is iron bisglycinate, and it is accompanied by vitamin C, zinc, copper and some B12. One tablet per day with breakfast or lunch is suggested.
3) There are many natural means by which to support one’s bowels, to achieve a comfortable, formed, soft stool daily. There are fibres, probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamin C or magnesium at higher doses. Of potential relevance to anyone with anaemia of any kind, is its association with an underactive thyroid hormone. This may be identified by a standard NHS / GP blood test which can reveal a hypothyroid state, or it may not be picked up by the standard testing which means it could be sub-clinical hypothyroidism. When anaemia is corrected, the thyroid hormone levels tend to improve without any direct thyroid support. Low thyroid hormone function leads to sluggish bowels and constipation. For this, specific thyroid support may be warranted. However, simply focusing on something to support bowels, I am going to suggest a specific pre and probiotic called Securil (Allergy Research), which supports the production of propionic acid, one of the naturally produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Taking 2 or 3 or even 4 if needed, with dinner can bring about improvements in bowel motions. It does not have the potential issues that may occur from taking fibres such as bloating, or the over-loose effects from vitamin C or magnesium.
I hope this advice proves to be helpful
Antony Haynes