Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Common and Curable Disease
Miller JL • Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
Key Finding
Ferritin ≤15 μg/L diagnostic of iron deficiency; several hundred million people affected globally; 10 million iron deficient in US; target ferritin restoration 50-100 μg/L
Key Findings
- 1Ferritin ≤15 μg/L diagnostic of iron deficiency
- 2Iron deficiency accounts for 30-50% of anemia globally
- 31.6 billion people anemic; several hundred million have IDA
- 4Target ferritin restoration: 50-100 μg/L (400-800 mg stores)
Original title: “Iron deficiency anemia: a common and curable disease”
Plain English Summary
Review of iron deficiency anemia epidemiology, mechanisms, and treatment. Iron deficiency accounts for 30-50% of anemia cases; 1.6 billion people globally anemic.
In-Depth Analysis
Study Details
Author: Jeffery L Miller, NIH NIDDK
Journal: Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med, 2013 Jul; 3(7):a011866
PMCID: PMC3685880
Key Statistics (from original paper)
Global Prevalence
- •1.6 billion people anemic globally
- •Several hundred million have iron deficiency anemia
- •Iron deficiency accounts for 30-50% of anemia in children
- •Fivefold increase in underdeveloped regions
Regional Prevalence (Infants/Young Children)
- •Africa: 64.6%
- •Asia: 47.7%
- •Latin America: 39.5%
- •Europe: 16.7%
- •North America: 3.4%
- •Oceania: 28.0%
United States
- •~10 million iron deficient
- •~5 million with iron deficiency anemia
Diagnostic Criteria
- •Ferritin ≤15 μg/L is diagnostic of iron deficiency
Iron Metabolism
- •"20 mg of iron is recycled" daily
- •"More than one-half of total-body iron is contained within hemoglobin"
- •Pregnancy requires ~1200 mg iron from conception through delivery
Treatment Target
- •Target ferritin restoration: 50-100 μg/L (400-800 mg iron stores)
Major Causes
- •Blood loss (most common globally)
- •Menstruation and hookworm (greatest worldwide impact)
- •Pregnancy
- •Malabsorption
Source: PMC full text (PMC3685880)
Paradigm Relevance
How this study applies to different clinical perspectives:
Standard Medical
RelevantConventional clinical guidelines used by most doctors
Why it matters:
Core reference for understanding iron deficiency anemia pathophysiology and treatment
Research Consensus
RelevantCurrent scientific understanding, often ahead of guidelines
Why it matters:
Establishes evidence base for ferritin and hemoglobin as primary diagnostic markers
Metabolic Optimization
RelevantProactive targets for optimal health, not just disease absence
Why it matters:
Emphasizes prevention strategies and optimal iron status maintenance for vulnerable populations
Study Details
- Type
- Review Article
- Methodology
- Review article covering global epidemiology, iron homeostasis mechanisms, diagnostic criteria, and treatment approaches.
Evidence Quality
Review from PMC3685880. NIH NIDDK author. Comprehensive global perspective.
Related Biomarkers
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Original Source
DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is a permanent link to this publication. Unlike website URLs that can change, a DOI always resolves to the correct source.
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