Both those research paths lead to this article. As part of the hemoglobin in red blood cells, iron transports oxygen from your lungs to every cell in your body which is why shortness of breath and overwhelming tiredness are two of the primary symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia. Too much iron can be just as bad as too little, as bacteria and cancer cells thrive in an iron-rich environment, reproducing fast and furiously. Too much iron causes free radicals to form, which have been linked to everything from cancer to heart disease to aging. Iron Deficiency and Anemia Two billion people around the world, mostly children and women of childbearing age, suffer from iron-deficiency anemia.
Millions more suffer from lesser degrees of iron deficiency.
In the United States, up to 6 percent of menstruating girls and women are anemic, and up to 11 percent are iron deficient. Although the risks of anemia are well known, the impact of more marginal iron deficiency is less well-studied. Growing evidence, however, shows that even a minor depletion of iron stores can have a significant effect on health and well-being. Even marginal iron deficiency can impair memory and mental functioning. Although these effects are less obvious than the pallor and exhaustion of anemia, they are no less devastating, particularly in children and young adults who are still in school.