Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Causes of Low Iron Anaemia

Your iron levels can become low for a number of reasons, including:

• Not getting enough iron through your diet.
• Losing blood, such as through heavy menstrual periods or bleeding from the stomach or bowel.
• Having a condition that makes it harder for your body to absorb iron, such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease.

Some people are more likely to develop low iron or iron deficiency, including:

• Pēpi, tamariki and rangatahi, as their bodies need more iron while they are growing.
• Girls and women, particularly because of iron loss during menstrual periods.
• Pregnant women, as iron is needed to support the growing pēpi and build up pēpi’s iron stores.
• Athletes, who may have higher iron requirements.
• Vegetarians and vegans, particularly if their diet is low in iron-rich foods.
• People following restrictive or fad diets, where they may not be getting enough iron or other important nutrients.