Do you feel tired all the time? According to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, your lack of energy could be a result of iron deficiency. The best way to get back in the game, according to research, is to take iron pills.
The study authors recruited almost 200 women between the ages 18 of 53 who reported feeling fatigued. Women at this age range typically undergo menstruation, which could lower iron levels. Over a period of 12 weeks, half of them were given 80 mg of iron tablets daily, while the other half were given sugar pills. They were also tested for fatigue before and after the study.
Based on the report, women who took the iron pills lowered their fatigue scores by 50 percent.
"Iron deficiency may be an under-recognised cause of fatigue in women of child-bearing age," says Dr. Bernard Favrat from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, one of the researchers. "For women with unexplained, prolonged fatigue, iron deficiency should be considered."
So if you find yourself often getting fatigued easily, bring up iron deficiency the next time you consult your doctor. As with any medicine, make sure that you take the proper amount of iron pills to avoid consuming more than you should. Rick Miller, a spokesman for the British Dietetic Association, tells BBC.co.uk that too much iron can also be detrimental to a person’s health.
(Photo by Thirteen of Clubs via Flickr Creative Commons)
