Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency is a common condition, either due to diet or health issues.
Chronic Blood Loss
Health conditions that cause chronic internal bleeding can lead to anemia. Anemia and GI issues are often linked because gastrointestinal bleeding is a common source of chronic blood loss, especially among older adults. Conditions that can cause gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia include [2]:
- Gastritis, an inflammation of the stomach
- Esophagitis, an inflammation of the esophagus
- Bleeding ulcers
- Angiodysplasia, which causes blood vessels in the GI tract to swell and leak
- Acute GI conditions such as infections like diverticulitis or colorectal cancer.
Kidney disease can also cause chronic blood loss and iron-deficiency anemia.
Iron-Poor Diet
Individuals who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet may be at increased risk of iron-deficiency anemia if they aren’t careful to consume food with sufficient iron [2].
Reproductive Health Issues
Anemia is also common during pregnancy and after childbirth. Heavy menstrual periods and endometriosis can also lead to iron deficiency anemia [2].
Absorption Issues
If your body can’t absorb enough iron from your diet, you can develop anemia [3]. Conditions that affect the way your GI tract functions, such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can limit iron absorption. People with a history of bariatric surgery are also at risk for anemia linked to poor iron absorption.
Medications
Certain medications, particularly medications that treat conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can inhibit iron absorption. Proton-pump inhibitors, histamine-2 receptor antagonists, and calcium carbonate have all been linked to iron deficiency anemia [4]. Certain antibiotics and blood pressure medications may also reduce iron absorption [5].
At-Home Testing With Colonox-FIT
One sign of gastrointestinal bleeding is the presence of blood in stools. Not all fecal blood is visible, however, making it challenging to identify the presence of blood. The Colonox-FIT test detects the presence of blood that can’t be seen, also known as fecal occult blood.
The Colonox-FIT test is an at-home version of the same fecal immunochemical test that healthcare providers use to screen for signs of gastrointestinal issues. The easy-to-use test uses antibodies to measure hemoglobin proteins in the stool in under 10 minutes.
Testing for fecal occult blood can alert you to potential health issues, including GI bleeding that causes iron deficiency anemia. The Colonox-FIT doesn’t specifically test for anemia at home, but it can be one indicator that you may be at risk for anemia.
If you suspect you have iron-deficiency anemia or GI bleeding, contact your doctor right away so you can get appropriate treatment.
