New study reveal iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia is common in Canada

40 % of women aged 15-54 have low ferritin and 13 % are anemic

Low ferritin can sometimes contribute to hair shedding - especially as ferritin drops well below 40. Authors of an interesting new study set out to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in women 15-54 in the province of Ontario Canada. Iron deficiency was defined as ferritin <30 μg/L. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin <120 g/L and Iron deficiency anemia as ferritin <30 μg/L and hemoglobin <120 g/L.

Over 700,000 women were evaluated in this study. Surprisingly, 38.3% of women had low ferritin, and, 13.1% had iron deficiency anemia; 55.6% of women with iron deficiency anemia still had normal mean corpuscular volumes.

COMMENT

All women with concerns about hair loss need basic blood tests like a complete blood count, ferritin level, thyroid stimulating hormone level and 25 hydroxvitamin D level. It’s incredible just how prevalent iron deficiency is in Canada.

REFERENCE

Wen S et al. High prevalence of iron deficiency and socioeconomic disparities in laboratory screening of non-pregnant females of reproductive age: A retrospective cohort study. Am J Hematol. 2024 May 2. doi: 10.1002/ajh.27352. Online ahead of print.