Once discovered, the girl's running was stopped. To enforce this restriction, hospital personnel closely monitored her. Dr. Ferron's letter suggests that the key to the patient's condition was a combination of compulsive exercising and poor diet, and that iron deficiency did not play a direct, if any, role in causing the anemia. Though poorly understood, iron does seem to be involved in appetite regulation, which could have implications for sufferers of anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. Dr. Blinder describes cases of iron deficiency in patients with pica, an illness in which people compulsively eat indigestible objects such as hair or matches.
Dopamine is a chemical which helps transmit nerve impulses.
Although anorexia nervosa is not pica, the research suggests that iron can influence dietary behavior. The site also stresses the need for regular follow-ups. The RDA for women under 50 is 15 mg, and, for pregnant women, it's 30 mg. The site also emphasizes that iron supplements should be kept away from young children. As few as five high-potency iron pills can kill them .