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Iron supplementation may boost energy levels in non-anemic

Category: Anemia and RBC disorders

Iron supplementation may significantly improve women's energy levels, even if blood testing does not indicate anemia, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The connection between low iron levels and fatigue is well established. However, many individuals who feel unnatural fatigue find out through blood testing that their levels are near normal, which leaves a large number of patients feeling frustrated. The findings suggest that iron supplementation may benefit these individuals.

In the study, researchers from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland administered either iron supplements or placebos to nearly 200 women between the ages of 18 and 50 who had low levels of blood iron but were not anemic. The results showed that those receiving the active supplements were 19 percent less likely to report fatigue at the end of the 12-week trial period than participants given the placebo.

"Iron deficiency may be an under-recognized cause of fatigue in women of child-bearing age," the researchers wrote. "If fatigue is not due to secondary causes, the identification of iron deficiency as a potential cause may prevent inappropriate attribution of symptoms to putative emotional causes or life stressors."