The hidden link between iron deficiency and mental health

A SIGNIFICANT connection is gaining recognition: the impact of low iron levels on mental well-being.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

Whether it's toddlers, teens, new mothers or seniors, iron deficiency often shows up as mood swings, brain fog and tiredness.

"Iron plays a vital role in producing serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, the brain's mood, sleep and focus chemicals," said Sister Karin Davidson, anaemia advocate and head of the Cape Town Infusion Centre.

Without enough iron, these neurotransmitters cannot be made efficiently, leading to emotional instability, brain fog or low mood.

Global research backs this up.

A 2020 population-based cohort study found that people with iron deficiency anaemia faced a significantly higher risk of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders than those with normal iron stores.

A review of studies among women found that improving iron status improved mental-health scores and reduced fatigue.

This highlights how iron deficiency is more than just a physical issue; it can profoundly impact emotional and mental well-being as well.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one quarter of the world's population lives with anaemia, about 1.62 billion people.

In South Africa, surveys show: