TLDR Low iron levels can cause hair loss and restless legs in non-anemic women.
This study examined the correlation between symptoms and iron status in 554 non-anemic menstruating women aged 18–50 years. It found that iron deficiency, indicated by low serum ferritin (SF) levels, was significantly associated with recent hair loss and restless legs syndrome. Specifically, hair loss was more common in women with SF levels ≤20 µg/l, while restless legs syndrome was linked to SF levels ≤50 µg/l. The study suggested that non-anemic iron deficiency could affect quality of life, and recommended considering iron supplementation if these symptoms were reported in primary care.
207 citations
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April 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Iron deficiency may be related to hair loss, but there's not enough evidence to recommend iron screening or supplements for all hair loss patients.
239 citations
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July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology” Low iron and L-lysine levels can cause hair loss in women, and increasing these nutrients can reduce hair shedding.
14 citations
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January 2020 in “Women's health reports” Iron deficiency in menstruating women causes many health issues beyond anemia and needs early detection and treatment.
8 citations
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April 2015 in “Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology” Effective symptom management in IBD improves quality of life and prevents complications.
November 2018 in “Springer eBooks” Children need early diagnosis and treatment for iron-deficiency anemia to prevent learning problems and promote health.
19 citations
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October 2021 in “Medicine” Exercising women should be screened for anemia due to its prevalence and impact on performance.
Iron deficiency anemia can cause itching, which often improves with iron supplements.
