GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Multiple studies show girls and women do not get enough iron.
According to a study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 40% of girls and young women aged 12 to 21 have iron deficiency.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 29.9% of women under the age of 50 worldwide suffered from anemia as of 2019.
"It's so common," said Dr. Steven Fein, a hematologist with University of Michigan Health-West. "That we think about a third of all women of childbearing age have iron deficiency to the point where they would need iron infusions if they were figured out."
Fein said that is part of the problem with women and iron: a lack of awareness among women and their doctors.
Low iron can cause fatigue, trouble concentrating, low energy and depression. It also sometimes causes a person to crave chewing ice, though Fein said the reason for that is unknown.
Women have more deficiency with iron due to menstruation and pregnancy.
"Beyond that, it's also a socioeconomic problem and a racial equality issue," said Fein. "because many more African American women have low iron compared to Caucasian woman."
Taking iron supplements is one option, but Fein says it is difficult to get enough iron someone deficient needs.
"Only the past ten years has it really been easy to solve with iron infusions," said Fein. "We strongly advocate iron infusions.
A diet rich in iron can also help someone deficient. Red meat is the most commonly associated food with iron. Fein said that is true, but any meat will have iron in it, like poultry, fish or pork. Also, vegetables like spinach, broccoli and beans also have iron.