Diet for anemia: how nutrition professionals can help

November 22, 2022

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Creating a diet for anemia can be more complex than it sounds, but with the right foods, you can help your clients boost iron levels and improve their health. Here’s what dietitians need to know about iron and its nutrition implications.

If your nutrition client is feeling fatigued, dizzy, or has a lack of appetite, you may want to check their iron levels. Iron deficiency anemia is the most commonly occurring form of anemia in the world, and since this mineral plays a crucial role in the body, it’s important to tackle this issue with dietary intervention.

But how can you, as a dietitian, create a diet for anemia and help your clients boost their iron levels? Before we break down some dietary sources of iron, let’s understand what science has to say about the importance of iron and its subsequent nutrition implications.

What is iron?

Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells (which transfer oxygen from the lungs to the tissues), as well as for growth, muscle metabolism, healthy connective tissue, neurological development, cellular functioning, and synthesis of some hormones.

There are two types of iron–heme and non-heme. Plants and iron-fortified foods only contain non-heme iron, whereas meat, seafood, and poultry contain both heme and non-heme iron. Let’s briefly break these down to better understand the differences between them.

Heme iron: This is the most bioavailable form of iron and is found in animal foods like beef, pork, chicken, veal, fish (such as halibut, haddock, perch, salmon or tuna), shellfish, and red meats.
Non-heme iron: This comes from plant sources (such as spinach, broccoli, beans, and legumes) and iron-fortified foods. Unfortunately for vegetarians and vegans, non-heme iron bioavailability varies between 5-12%, and since several compounds found in grains, beans, and cereals can further diminish its’ absorption, many plant-based eaters are at risk of iron deficiency.

Ferritin is another blood protein that contains iron and can be used as an indicator of iron stores. For instance, low ferritin levels can signify iron deficiency, whereas high ferritin levels may suggest hemochromatosis (a genetic condition) and obesity, inflammation, and liver disease.

What is RDA for iron?

Iron needs differ greatly based on gender and age. Here is a breakdown of the recommended daily amount (RDA) for iron:

Women 14-18 years old: 15 mg/day
Women 19-50 years old: 18 mg/day
Women over 51 years old: 8 mg/day
Women ages 14-18 who are breastfeeding: 10 mg/day
Women ages 19-50 who are breastfeeding: 9 mg/day
Women who are pregnant: 27 mg/day
Men 14-18 years old: 11 mg/day
Men over 19 years old: 8 mg/day
Adults who eat a vegetarian or vegan diet: 1.8 times the RDA

When does anemia happen?

Iron deficiency anemia happens when the body doesn't have enough iron to produce hemoglobin. This can lead to someone feeling tired and short of breath.

A serum ferritin concentration <30 mcg/L suggests iron deficiency, and a value <10 mcg/L suggests anemia.

While it’s important to examine iron/ferritin levels to help determine anemia, considerable research suggests that low ferritin doesn’t always correlate with low iron levels–copper may also be to blame.

Copper is a mineral that can provide helpful insight into ferritin levels since it helps attach iron to hemoglobin and loads ferritin with iron. Studies have found that low copper levels could lead to lower iron absorption, which may result in an iron deficiency over time. As such, some experts suggest that iron deficiency anemia might actually be a copper deficiency, and should be treated as such.

Your client’s copper levels may be low for a variety of reasons, but the main reason could be a decrease in soil nutrients, which can affect plants and animals. Even though foods like shellfish, liver, fatty fish, oysters, spirulina, shiitake mushrooms, lobster, and dark chocolate are rich in copper, you may also want to consider supplementation with your clients to help meet their needs.

Who is at risk for an iron deficiency?

Certain people are more prone to iron deficiency than others. Certain high-risk populations include:

Infants and young children
Women
Vegetarians and/or vegans
Endurance athletes (particularly females)
Frequent blood donors

TIP: What causes these nutrient deficiencies, and how does this affect overall health? Here are some science-backed ways to help your clients.

What are the most common symptoms?

Common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are GI symptoms, weakness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, impaired immune function, and poor temperature regulation.

Athletes who are iron deficient may experience nausea, frequent infections, shortness of breath during exercise, respiratory illness, fatigue, weakness, pale appearance, lack of energy, and exhaustion.

What to include in a meal plan for an anemic patient

You can find iron in a variety of food sources, though some foods are better absorbed than others. Here are some food groups rich in iron and foods rich in iron-supporting nutrients.

Iron and vitamin C

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that has been found to enhance iron absorption. In fact, studies show that pairing at least 100 mg of vitamin C with an iron food source can increase absorption by 67%.

Some foods that are rich in vitamin C include red peppers, oranges, broccoli, brussels sprouts, strawberries, and grapefruit.

Leafy greens

Leafy greens (like spinach, kale, swiss chard, and beet greens) are packed with non-heme iron and offer a wide range of other nutrients that can also benefit health.

Since these vegetables contain non-heme iron, you can increase iron absorption by pairing them with a vitamin C food source. For example, you can add a spinach salad with strawberries, pumpkin seeds, steak (or tofu), and an orange dressing to your client’s lunch menu.

While leafy greens are a good source of iron, other iron-rich vegetables include sweet potatoes, peas, broccoli, and string beans. The amount of iron in broccoli is around 1 mg.

Animal-based sources

Red meat and poultry are some of the best dietary sources of iron. Generally, the redder the meat is, the higher the iron content. For instance, a 3.5-ounce (100-gram) serving of beef liver contains 6.5 mg of iron.

Seafood sources (like oysters, mussels, sardines, tuna, and clams) are also rich in iron. Five raw oysters deliver 3.23 mg of iron, whereas the amount of iron in salmon is less than 1 mg.

TIP: If your clients follow a plant-based diet, here’s how you can nutritionally support them with supplementation.

Foods rich in copper

Because copper can play a role in iron deficiency anemia, it’s recommended to include this mineral in an iron-rich meal plan.

Thankfully, many iron-rich foods (like oysters, beef liver, salmon, and spinach) also contain copper, so if you can, try to include them when possible. Other copper-rich foods include baking chocolate, cooked potatoes, cashews, tofu, and chickpeas.

Sample iron-rich meal plan

Here’s a sample iron-rich meal plan that may be helpful for you when creating a diet for anemia.

Breakfast: 2 eggs (2 mg), 1 cup cooked oatmeal (1.7 mg), 1 cup strawberries (< 1mg)
Snack: ⅓ cup raisins (1 mg), 2 oz almonds (2 mg)
Lunch: 1 cup cooked brown rice (1 mg), ½ cup refried beans (2 mg), 4 oz chicken thigh (1.5 mg)
Dinner: 4 oz beef (4 mg), ½ cup broccoli (0.5 mg), 1 baked potato (2 mg)
Total iron: ~18 mg

Learn how to create a weekly meal plan with Nutrium here.

Dos and don'ts in a meal plan for anemia

When planning a diet for anemic clients, knowing what foods work well together will help further ensure nutrition success. Here are some dos and don’ts when creating a meal plan for anemia.

Don’t: Avoid foods that contain phytic acid (beans, seeds, nuts, grains, and legumes), calcium (dairy products), and polyphenols (coffee and tea), as these can all significantly reduce iron absorption.
Do: Pair iron sources with foods rich in vitamin C and copper.

TIP: Discover more tips on how to treat and prevent iron deficit with a dietary plan.

Should you take an iron supplement?

If you feel that iron supplements would benefit your clients, it should be done under strict supervision. Iron type and dosing can differ from person to person and may interact with certain medications.

If your client takes antacids or calcium supplements, it’s recommended for them to wait at least one hour before taking iron supplements. Additionally, it’s best to take iron supplements on an empty stomach with a vitamin C food source, as this will help enhance absorption.

However, be cautious when recommending an iron supplement to your clients. Excess iron intake can lead to iron toxicity, so be sure to monitor them closely for any negative side effects. Some symptoms of iron poisoning may include stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

Summary

Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells, as well as other important functions throughout the body. As a dietitian, it’s important to monitor your client’s ferritin and copper levels to determine the best diet for anemia. Foods that are rich in vitamin C, copper, and iron are all items to include in a meal plan to boost iron levels, but supplementation may be necessary to further help meet your client's needs.

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References

Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Common and Curable Disease. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Iron. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ods.od.nih.gov/

Biochemistry, Iron Absorption. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov  

Management of Elevated Serum Ferritin Levels. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Iron deficiency anemia. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.mayoclinic.org 

Metabolic crossroads of iron and copper. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Copper. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.lpi.oregonstate.edu

Iron considerations for the athlete: a narrative review. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.link.springer.com

Comprehensive Sports Medicine Treatment of an Athlete Who Runs Cross-Country and is Iron Deficient. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prediction of dietary iron absorption: an algorithm for calculating absorption and bioavailability of dietary iron. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.academic.oup.com

Vitamin C. Retrieved October 24, 2022, from http://www.ods.od.nih.gov

FoodData central–beef, variety meats, and by-products. Retrieved October 24, 2022 from http://www.fdc.nal.usda.gov

FoodData central–oysters, raw. Retrieved October 24, 2022 from http://www.fdc.nal.usda.gov

Taking iron supplements. Retrieved October 24, 2022 from http://www.ouh.nhs.uk

The Dark Side of Iron - Why Too Much is Harmful. Retrieved October 24, 2022 from http://www.healthline.com

Tags:

anemia, nutrition assessment