A forgotten cause of iron deficiency anaemia in young adults, so writes Marjan Wouthuyzen-Bakker and Sander van Assen in the British Journal of General Practice:

Iron deficiency anaemia (lDA) is a common finding in general practice. The prevalence of IDA in the general population is around 2% and rises to >5% in pre-menopausal females. The presenting symptoms of IDA vary, but mostly include fatigue, exercise intolerance, weakness, headache, and
irritability. These symptoms may also be present in iron deficiency without anaemia. The main causes of IDA are age-dependent. Iron loss by menstrual or gastrointestinal bleeding and malabsorption of iron in the small intestine are the most reported causes of IDA. Less known and therefore an often forgotten cause of IDA, is physical exercise. Here we present three cases of young white female adults in whom IDA was induced by intensive physical training.

Continue reading: Exercise-induced Anaemia (Wouthuyzen-Bakker & van Assen, 2015)

Reference

Wouthuyzen-Bakker, M. & van Assen, S. (2015) Exercise-induced Anaemia: A Forgotten Cause of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Young Adults. British Journal of General Practice. May 2015, 65, pp.268-269. DOI: 10.3399/bjgp15X685069