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Struggling with Low Iron Levels? Here Are 4 Reasons Why

Iron is an essential mineral that helps our bodies function properly. However, some people struggle with maintaining healthy iron levels. Here are four reasons why this might happen.

Reason 1: Puberty, Heavy Menstruation or Pregnancy Have Impacted Your Iron Levels

For women who menstruate, there is a higher demand for iron. For example, teenage girls' iron requirements double when menstruation starts.¹ While women with heavy periods need twice as much iron to support adequate levels.⁸ During pregnancy, the body needs three times as much iron,¹,² which can often lead to iron deficiency in 3 out of 4 pregnant women.³,⁴

To reduce the chance of low iron levels, women are often advised to take over-the-counter iron supplements. However, many forms of oral iron aren't easy for the body to absorb.⁵ When taken in high doses, poorly absorbed iron supplements can lead to digestive upset, such as nausea and constipation.⁶

While the body has its limits of how much iron it can handle in one dose, certain forms of iron appear to be better absorbed that others.

A well-absorbed form of iron, iron bisglycinate, has been shown to have a 64% lower chance of gastrointestinal side effects compared to other available forms, such as iron sulfate, polymaltose iron, and iron fumarate.⁶ Iron bisglycinate appears to be so well absorbed, it's been shown effectively boost iron levels at half the dose of other forms.

One study showed 25mg of iron bisglycinate is as effective as 50mg of iron sulfate to increase iron levels.⁷

Beyond menstruation and pregnancy, other reasons for low iron can include lifestyle, health conditions, or low iron intake.

Reason 2: Your Athletic Lifestyle or Health Condition Has Increased Your Iron Requirements

Certain lifestyles or health conditions can lead to low iron levels. For example, athletes (particularly females) can lose iron through sweat and training-induced body inflammation. All of these factors can increase the need for more iron.⁹ While people with chronic diseases like cancer, autoimmune diseases, heart failure, or kidney disease might also struggle with iron levels.¹⁰

Certain conditions that affect the stomach or intestines can make it difficult for the body to absorb iron. One example is celiac disease.¹¹ So if you're feeling puzzled by unexplained low iron, it's worth exploring the potential of underlying health conditions with your General Practitioner.

Reason 3: Dietary Choices Are Limiting Your Absorption of Iron

Dietary choices can have a big impact on your iron levels. For instance, vegetarians and vegans can have low iron due to plant-based iron having a poorer absorption compared to meat.¹²,¹³ If you eat mostly plants, you may need almost twice as much dietary iron each day as non-vegetarians.¹² To learn more about eating the required amount of iron, check out this article here.

Other dietary factors can also impact iron levels, such as excessive alcohol intake.¹⁴ While coffee and tea, can make it harder for your body to absorb iron. To support iron uptake, ensure a healthy level of alcohol consumption and avoid having coffee or tea with meals.¹⁵

Reason 4: The Iron Supplement you are Taking Isn’t Enough for What your Body Needs

There are many iron supplements available on the market. From plant-based multi-vitamins with iron, to beef liver supplements that contain iron in its haemoglobin form. With these options, it's important to know how much iron you are taking compared to the total daily amount you need. 

These supplements may contain up to 1 milligram (mg) to 4 mg per serve, providing anywhere from 3.5% to 50%, relative to the daily requirement for men and women across different life stages.¹

But if your iron levels are low, you might need a dose that is higher than the reccomended daily intake. For more guidance, it's worth reaching out to a healthcare practitioner. Based on your needs, they might suggest you consider supplementing iron bisglycinate, found in Hemagenics Iron Advanced to help maintain healthy iron levels.

Boost Your Iron: Essential Tips for Staying Healthy and Energised

Having low iron can happen for many reasons. We hope this article has left you feeling more informed as to why this might happen, with useful tips on what you can do about it. If you're still unsure, we recommend reaching out to a healthcare practitioner who can guide you towards keeping your iron levels in check.

 
References: 

  1. Department of Health & Aged Care. Iron. Eat for Health. Accessed April 7, 2025. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/iron
  2. Breymann C, Auerbach M. Iron deficiency in gynecology and obstetrics: clinical implications and management. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2017;2017(1):152-159. doi:10.1182/asheducation-2017.1.152
  3. Fisher AL, Nemeth E. Iron homeostasis during pregnancy. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;106(Suppl 6):1567S-1574S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.117.155812
  4. Tang G, Lausman A, Abdulrehman J, et al. Prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy: a single centre Canadian study. Blood. 2019;134:3389
  5. Benson AE, Shatzel JJ, Ryan KS, et al. The incidence, complications, and treatment of iron deficiency in pregnancy. Eur J Haematol. 2022;109(6):633-642. doi:10.1111/ejh.13870
  6. Fischer JAJ, Cherian AM, Bone JN, Karakochuk CD. The effects of oral ferrous bisglycinate supplementation on hemoglobin and ferritin concentrations in adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Rev. 2023;81(8):904-920. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuac106
  7. Milman N, Jønsson L, Dyre P, Pedersen PL, Larsen LG. Ferrous bisglycinate 25 mg iron is as effective as ferrous sulfate 50 mg iron in the prophylaxis of iron deficiency and anemia during pregnancy in a randomized trial. J Perinat Med. 2014;42(2):197-206. doi:10.1515/jpm-2013-0153
  8. Napolitano M, Dolce A, Celenza G, et al. Iron-dependent erythropoiesis in women with excessive menstrual blood losses and women with normal menses. Ann Hematol. 2014;93(4):557-563. doi:10.1007/s00277-013-1901-3
  9. McClung JP, Gaffney-Stomberg E, Lee JJ. Female athletes: a population at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies affecting health and performance. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2014;28(4):388-392. doi:10.1016/j.jtemb.2014.06.022
  10. Fertrin KY. Diagnosis and management of iron deficiency in chronic inflammatory conditions (CIC): is too little iron making your patient sick? Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2020;2020(1):478-486. doi:10.1182/hematology.2020000132
  11. Freeman HJ. Iron deficiency anemia in celiac disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2015;21(31):9233-9238. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i31.9233
  12. NIH Institute of Health. Iron - Health Professional Fact Sheet. National Institutes of Health. Updated April 7, 2025. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
  13. Slywitch E, Savalli C, Duarte ACG, Escrivão MAMS. Iron Deficiency in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Individuals: Analysis of 1340 Individuals. Nutrients. 2021;13(9):2964. Published 2021 Aug 26. doi:10.3390/nu13092964
  14. Ballard HS. The hematological complications of alcoholism. Alcohol Health Res World. 1997;21(1):42-52.
  15. Delimont NM, Haub MD, Lindshield BL. The Impact of Tannin Consumption on Iron Bioavailability and Status: A Narrative Review. Curr Dev Nutr. 2017;1(2):1-12. Published 2017 Jan 19. doi:10.3945/cdn.116.000042
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