Introduction

Anemia causes hair loss in elderly women and the cause of anemia is Iron Deficiency.

What Do We Mean By Iron Deficiency?

Iron deficiency is caused by decrease in normal ferittin levels [<40 units] and an increase in iron binding capacity. There is a medical condition called telogen effluvium which is characterized by hair loss in large quantities. And Iron Deficiency Anemia is postulated as one of the prime factors responsible for this condition. But, it can also be caused due to over medications and such a thing should always be kept at the back of the mind.

Iron deficiency can also be caused due to excessive load on the iron stores in the body in cases of pregnancy where huge irons stores are being continually depleted. Also during menstruation, lot of blood loss and consequently iron loss occurs.

Mechanism Of Iron Storage And Its Use

The mineral Iron occurring in the blood is required for the synthesis of two important substances called hemoglobin and myoglobin. Hemoglobin is responsible for transport of oxygen through the medium of red blood cells all over the body. Myoglobin [MYO means muscle] is nothing but a variant of hemoglobin occurring in different muscles of the human body. Iron has a significant role in the normal growth and development of hair but its sphere of action is not limited to hair alone. Iron has wide spectral effects on different organs of the human body.

A well developed iron storage and usage system exists normally in every human body. The working mechanism of this system is so excellent that it is almost hard to believe. Whatever iron enters into the human body through the medium of food, is metabolized and stored in organs like liver, spleen, bone marrow and kidney. Until the dietary supply of iron is adequate, these stored iron deposits lay in state of dormancy. Whenever there is depletion in the iron intake, these reserved iron deposits come to the rescue of human body.

Hair Loss And Anemia

Why does hair loss seem to occur along with anemia? Before important organs like liver, spleen and bone marrow are tapped for iron resources, body utilizes iron obtained from not so essential body parts like the hair. So, hair loss is one of the primary signs occurring in iron deficiency anemia. In the absence of required quantities of iron, hair cells cannot mature in a desired way and as a result hair loss occurs. Also, the nutrition required by the scalp is hampered due to reduced blood supply and improper oxygenation occurring in iron deficiency anemia.

Sources Of Iron

One of the simplest ways to combat iron deficiency - anemia is to have a regular diet rich in iron. Foodstuffs rich in iron are

A] Vegetable Sources: Green Leafy Vegetables, Jaggery, Cereals, Legumes, Oilseeds And Dried Fruits [Non Haem Variety Of Iron]

B] Animal Sources: Liver, Meat, Fish And Poultry [Haem Variety Of Iron].

But, care must be taken during usage of certain food stuffs like milk, tea and eggs which are seen to inhibit iron absorption. Also, iron cannot be utilized from all vegetable sources due to presence of certain phytates, phosphates, carbonates, oxalates which interfere with normal utilization of iron by obstructing its absorption. Cooking food in iron vessels is not at all a bad option for utilization of iron. Dietary iron is single handedly the most powerful way to combat iron deficiency anemia undoubtedly. The present day sees the trend of increasing number of food products which act as iron supplements. They are manufactured in the form of corn flakes or for that matter ayurvedic “chyawanprash” and also fortified energy drinks which claim to provide requisite quantities of iron required for the optimum growth of children as well as adults.

Lab Investigations

The clinical evidence of iron deficiency could easily be judged by simple laboratory tests like ‘complete blood count’: By this, we could come to the following clinical features. An Hb level <10-11g/dl [normal values: male-12-16g/dl, females: 11-15g/dl]. Speaking medically decrease in values of MEAN CORPUSCULAR VOLUME<80g/dl [normal values: 80-96g/dl], decrease in MEAN CORPUSCULAR HAEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION < 34g/dl. Decrease in levels of ferittin and increase in total iron binding capacity. A microscopic blood study gives evidence of hypochromic, microcytic anemia which is one of the important presenting features of anemia.

Thus, prognosis of anemia is very fair. An effort to replenish the usage of iron by dietary or other means and treatment of pathological conditions of blood loss like peptic ulcer, piles, fissures, hookworm infestations can come a long way in eliminating probable cases of anemia and subsequently prevent loss of hair!!