Iron is key to mood and mental health as it plays a key role in oxidative metabolism and the reduction of free radicals. It is also a cofactor in the synthesis of neurotransmitters and myelin. Your neurotransmitters are serotonin, dopamine, beta-endorphins, and GABA.
Specifically, iron plays an important role in how your body makes the neurotransmitters called serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine – all of them important in mental health. Research suggests a connection between low iron levels and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, Levin and Gattari write.
Iron pills don't work for everyone, but they do help support energy levels and reduce feelings of tiredness and fatigue. The body needs iron to produce red blood cells which carry oxygen around the body. If you experience ongoing tiredness and fatigue, consider taking an iron supplement such as Active Iron.
Iron deficiency anemia and depression
According to a 2020 study , iron deficiency anemia can increase a person's risk of depression. Iron deficiency can cause low levels of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter and mood stabilizer.
And since iron is an essential element for brain functions that can dictate psychological behaviours, low iron levels in the body may put you at risk for a variety of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
And since iron is an essential part of the systems and circuits in the brain that can dictate psychological behaviors, low iron levels in the body may make you more at risk for anxiety and depression.
However, even low-grade iron deficiency can lead to more immediate cognitive or neurological symptoms, such as fatigue, trouble concentrating or dizziness. Lack of iron has also been associated with memory and attention problems, as well as poor cognitive development in children.
Iron is essential for many biological functions including neurotransmitter synthesis, where the metal is a co-factor of tyrosine hydroxylase, which converts tyrosine to dopamine and further to norepinephrine.
It may take one to four weeks (after you start your iron supplement) before you start to feel better. Continue to watch your symptoms and take note of side effects. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your healthcare provider.
Oral iron supplements usually start working in about 3 to 7 days. But your hemoglobin levels could take up to 2 months to return to normal. Common side effects of iron include constipation, nausea, and stomach pain. Taking your iron with food can help prevent an upset stomach.
Extreme fatigue. Weakness. Pale skin. Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
If your iron supplement is working, you should notice an increase in energy levels; however, when this will occur varies from person to person, and is dependent on your levels of iron in storage and circulation.
You may tire easily. You also may feel grumpy, have headaches, and have trouble concentrating. Most people begin to feel normal after a few weeks of taking iron pills. But you need to take the pills for several months to build up the iron supply in your body.
Weight gain related to iron therapy is a common problem in female patients with iron deficiency anemia. Patients under iron therapy should be counseled in terms of weight gain complication and benefits of diet and followed up serum ferritin and Hgb levels to prevent prolonged iron therapy.
Low Iron and ADHD
The lower the levels of ferritin — a protein found inside cells that store iron — the more severe the symptoms. A small study, published in Pediatric Neurology, showed that symptoms improved when iron-deficient children with ADHD took an iron supplement.
When your body isn't getting enough oxygenation due to a lack of iron, you may find it hard to maintain focus and carry out your daily tasks. In addition, you may experience mood swings and irritability. Over time, in some cases, it may cause anxiety and depression.
Since both a deficiency and an excess of iron can negatively impact brain function, the body's regulation of iron transport to the brain is crucial.
Brain iron deficiency is associated with disruption of neurophysiological mechanisms that, within a social context that does not provide regular stimuli, compromises motor and cognitive development (e.g., impaired motor sequencing and bi-manual coordination, poor executive function, attention, and memory).
People with low iron levels in their blood, a condition known as anaemia, are thought to be more at risk of developing problems with thinking, communication, understanding and memory.
Anemia itself can also cause anxiety as a symptom. Those that are anemic are placing their body under a great deal of stress, and this often sends messages to the brain to be more anxious.
Iron gives you energy because it allows your tissues, muscles and cells to receive and absorb oxygen.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.