A study by the University of Michigan suggests that four in 10 women are deficient in iron due to the rise of veganism. Researchers found that 39% of girls and women aged 12 to 21 lack enough iron, leading to fatigue, lightheadedness, and weakness. Six percent of those females had developed anaemia, which makes these symptoms more intense and can cause anxiety and depression. Iron is a vital mineral for growth and development, primarily found in meat, dark leafy greens, beans, and dark chocolate. Iron deficiency anaemia is a common form of anaemia, a disorder in which blood lacks an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells.
Iron is needed to help red blood cells produce haemoglobin, which carries oxygen. If the body isn't getting enough oxygen, symptoms may include extreme fatigue, weakness, pale skin, chest pain, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness, lightheadedness, cold hands or feet, inflammation, brittle nails, cravings for non-food items like ice or dirt, and poor appetite.
Iron deficiency anaemia has been linked to several serious health problems, including organ damage, heart damage, and panic attacks. It is dangerous for pregnant women, as research shows it could raise the risk of death for both the mother and child. Vegetarian diets have long been linked to iron deficiency, as many meat and other animal-based products are rich in iron. A 2018 review in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine suggested that vegetarians are more likely to have depleted iron stores, which could lead to deficiency.
Menstruation may be another common reason why women are deficient. Just two percent of men, on average, are iron deficient. However, in the JAMA study, over a quarter of girls who hadn't gotten a period were deficient in iron. The number of years participants had been menstruating was not associated with iron deficiency. Other factors contributing to iron deficiency include low body mass index (BMI), food insecurity, poverty, non-white race, and Hispanic ethnicity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends anaemia screening for nonpregnant female adolescents and women every five to 10 years. In comparison, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends girls and women between 14 and 50 years old get 15 to 18 milligrams of iron daily. Vegans can consume 6.6 milligrams of iron, about 37% of the daily recommended value.
