Last Updated on January 23, 2026 by Healthy Home
Iron Deficiency Anemia Causes
Reviewed by Public Health Expert (MPH), with experience in maternal and child health programs.
Medical Disclaimer : This information is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. For personalized guidance, consult a qualified healthcare provider. This article was reviewed by a Public Health Expert (MPH) with experience in maternal, infant and child health programs aligned with WHO and UNICEF frameworks.
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- Definition of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- How Iron Deficiency causes to Anemia?
- Cut off levels of Hemoglobin in human body (WHO Standard)
- Impact & outcome:
- Iron Deficiency Anemia Causes
- Different types of Nutritional Diversification:
- Iron Deficiency Anemia Diagnosis
- Management and Treatment Options
- Iron-Fortified Foods You should add to Your Diet
- Can Iron deficiency anemia be prevented?
- FAQs :
Definition of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
It is a medical condition in which the adequate size and colour of RBCs (Red Blood Cells) or the oxygen carrying capacity of the Adequate number of Red Blood Cells is less to meet the physiological needs of the body.
Iron, folic acid, vitamin C, protein, and vitamin B12 create thick red hemoglobin.
It makes the hemoglobin thin, pale and diluted.
It can be defined as the deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.
How Iron Deficiency causes to Anemia?
The process of hemoglobin synthesis also requires sufficient consumption and intake of essential nutrients such as:
- Iron
- Folic acid
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C
- Protein
Lack of these nutrients causes the formation of smaller red blood cells which are pale and have a decreased oxygen carrying capacity hence anemia.
Cut off levels of Hemoglobin in human body (WHO Standard)
| Age Groups | No anaemia | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
| Children with age 6 to 59 mths | greater than 11 mg/dl | 10 to 10.9 mg/dl | 7 to 9.9 mg/dl | less than 7 mg/dl |
| Children with 5 to 11 yrs | greater than11.5 mg/dl | 11 to 11.4 mg/dl | 8 to 10.9 mg/dl | less than 8 mg/dl |
| Children with 12 to 14 yrs | greater than12 mg/dl | 11 to 11.9 mg/dl | 8 to 10.9 mg/dl | less than 8 mg/dl |
| Non pregnant women (15 yrs & above) | greater than12 mg/dl | 11 to 11.9 mg/dl | 8 to 10.9 mg/dl | less than 8 mg/dl |
| Pregnant Mother | greater than 11 mg/dl | 10 to 10.9 mg/dl | 7 to 9.9 mg/dl | less than 7 mg/dl |
| Men | greater than13 mg/dl | 11 to 12.9 mg/dl | 8 to 10.9 mg/dl | less than 8 mg/dl |
Impact & outcome:
- Overall Development Children reduces
- Due to decreasing immunity power, you may frequently get sick
- Reduced ability to focus and disinterest in one’s work
- Reduced ability to memorize and lack of focus during working and memory of the newly learned materials.
- Poor academic achievement
- Poor work capability, fatigue, and poor energy
- Low productivity
- Poor intrauterine growth and an elevated chance of preterm births are linked to maternal anemia, which raises the incidence of low birth weights and compromises the mother’s own survival after delivery.
i. CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS:
- Decreasing academic performance, Poor memory power, attention & focus, overall cognitive function etc.
- Immunity power decreases and infections arising frequently.
- Poor results for motor development
- Irregular menstruation Exhaustion/breathlessness
- Low stamina
- Child mortality
ii. Adults :
- Disabilities, weariness, and diminished muscle strength,
- Physical activity & work productivity also decreases
- An irregular heartbeat
- Cardiac arrest
- Irritability or mood swings
- Hospitalizations
- Increased chance of mortality
iii. Pregnant Women :
- Early birth
- Low birth weight
- Blood loss during delivery
- Bleeding after giving birth
- Deaths from pregnancy
- Perinatal care
- Neonatal care
- Low immunity for which depression and morbidity increases
iv. Lactating Women :
- The quality of life
- Fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Risk of infection
- Depression & Stress increases
Iron Deficiency Anemia Causes
A) Nutritional: deficiency of these nutrients due to
- Low Dietary intake of iron
- Low bio-diversity
- Tea with meal
- Calcium phosphate supplement with meal
- Phytic acid and fibre in bran of cereals
- Phosphvitin in egg
B) Blood loss or destruction of blood cells due to :
- Malaria
- Delivery
- Parasitic (Hook/round worm) infestation
- Blood loss during
- Menstruation
- During adolescence & pregnancy iron needs are very high
Nutrition:
- Lack of iron
- Lack of folic acid
- Deficiency of vitamin B12
- Deficiency in vitamin A
- Malnutrition of protein energy
Genetic hemoglobin disorders :
- Thalassemia
- Sickle-cell anaemia
Non -Nutritional Causes :
- Helminths spread by the soil
- AIDS
- Malaria
- Tuberculosis
- Fluorosis
- Pregnancy and early marriage
- Small intestinal problems and mal-absorption
- Poor sanitation and hygiene
Approximately Fifty percent of Anemia may be due to Iron deficiency.
Inter-generational Life Cycle of Anemia :
- Women with anemia who are pregnant
- Low hemoglobin and iron levels in a baby
- Anemia identified during early childhood but not treated.
- Teenage girl with the condition of menstrual blood loss and low iron levels and hemoglobin levels
- Because of low iron reserves, adolescents have to enter this reproductive life phase.
Different types of Nutritional Diversification:
- Green fruits and vegetables
- Fish, meat, liver, and eggs
- You can eat dried fruits, sesame, jaggery, sprouting pulses, ground nuts, jowar, bajra and wheat.
- Vitamin-c rich food in our diet increases the chance of more Iron absorption. Vitamin C rich fruits are oranges, lemons, apples, pears & Indian gooseberries (Amla).
Increased consumption of Iron Rich and Iron-Fortified food is necessary, as it is dietary diversification
- Long term approach
- Involvement of people in their eating habits
- Nutritional awareness & proper education to be provided to public & community.
- Reduce inhibitor and raise promoter concentrations to improve iron absorption
Iron Deficiency Anemia Diagnosis
Blood tests Diagnosed by doctors as iron deficiency anemia include:
- Hemoglobin and hematocrit concentration.
- Serum ferritin (iron storage)
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
- Red blood cell indices
Management and Treatment Options
Food-Based Approaches
- Consume more of foods that are rich in iron.
- Improve dietary diversity
- Use iron-fortified foods
Supplementation (Medical Advice Required)
- Tablets of iron and folic acid (IFA).
- IV iron sucrose in the severe cases.
Public Health Measures
- Regular deworming
- Malaria prevention
- Planning and birth spacing of families.
- Behavior change communication and nutrition counseling.
Iron supplements should only be taken after medical consultation, especially during pregnancy or chronic illness.
Suggestive Link for Iron Tab. from Amazon as mentioned below: https://amzn.to/4cGCUZ7
Iron-Fortified Foods You should add to Your Diet
Plant-Based Sources
- Green leafy vegetables
- Pulses and legumes
- Jowar, bajra, wheat
- Sesame seeds, groundnuts
- Jaggery and dried fruits
Animal-Based Sources
- Fish, meat, liver
- Eggs
Improve Iron Absorption
- Consume foods rich in vitamin c like oranges, lemons, amla, guava, apples and pears.
- Do not take tea or coffee just after meals.
Can Iron deficiency anemia be prevented?
Yes. Prevention of same should include:
- An iron-enriched balanced diet.
- Enhancement of iron absorption by taking vitamin c.
- Conducting health check-ups often in pregnancy.
- Early nutrition according to the recommendations of medical professionals.
A small video from youtube on this topic is as mentioned below: https://www.youtube.com/embed/tG4b3eU1Nzc?si=RGQg6Ax7YEwS1bJP
FAQs :
Related Health Articles from Healthy Home
- Antenatal Iron Supplementation During Pregnancy (healthhom.com)
- Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children (6–24 Months) (healthhom.com)
- Anemia in Adolescents: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment (healthhom.com)
- Iron rich foods during pregnancy – Healthy Home – Trusted Health Tips for Kids, Teens & Families (healthhom.com)
- Iron Supplementation – Best Benefits – Healthy Home – Trusted Health Tips for Kids, Teens & Families (healthhom.com)
Trusted References and Research Sources:
- Anaemia (who.int)
- Iron deficiency anemia – Diagnosis & treatment – Mayo Clinic
- Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Common and Curable Disease – PMC (nih.gov)
- Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia in the 21st century – PMC (nih.gov)
- partie i . 6 (who.int) – WHO guideline
For more detail, please visit to my website as mentioned below:
About the Author – “Mr. Bibhu Ranjan Mund”, Master in Public Health (MPH) from IIHMR University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) has experience of 18 years in Public Health activities. Through “Healthy Home”, we share the evidence & experienced based health & wellness guides with solutions for every day well-being.