Abstract
Associations between self-reported ‘low iron’, general health and well-being, vitality and tiredness in women, were examined using physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary and vitality (VT) scores from the MOS short-form survey (SF-36). 14,762 young (18–23 years) and 14,072 mid-age (45–50 years) women, randomly selected from the national health insurance commission (Medicare) database, completed a baseline mailed self-report questionnaire and 12,328 mid-age women completed a follow-up questionnaire 2 years later. Young and mid-age women who reported (ever) having had ‘low iron’ reported significantly lower mean PCS, MCS and VT scores, and greater prevalence of ‘constant tiredness’ at baseline than women with no history of iron deficiency [Differences: young PCS = −2.2, MCS = −4.8, VT = −8.7; constant tiredness: 67% vs. 45%; mid-age PCS = −1.4, MCS = −3.1, VT = −5.9; constant tiredness: 63% vs. 48%]. After adjusting for number of children, chronic conditions, symptoms and socio-demographic variables, mean PCS, MCS and VT scores for mid-age women at follow-up were significantly lower for women who reported recent iron deficiency (in the last 2 years) than for women who reported past iron deficiency or no history of iron deficiency [Means: PCS – recent = 46.6, past = 47.8, never = 47.7; MCS – recent = 45.4, past = 46.9, never = 47.4; VT – recent = 54.8, past = 57.6, never = 58.6]. The adjusted mean change in PCS, MCS and VT scores between baseline and follow-up were also significantly lower among mid-age women who reported iron deficiency only in the last 2 years (i.e. recent iron deficiency) [Mean change: PCS = −3.2; MCS = −2.1; VT = −4.2]. The results suggest that iron deficiency is associated with decreased general health and well-being and increased fatigue.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Basta SS, Soekirman DS, Karyadi D, Scrimshaw NS. Iron defficiency anemia and the productivity of adult males in Indonesia. Am J Clin Nutr 1979; 32: 916–925.
Oski F, Honig A, Helu B, Howanitz P. Effect of iron therapy on behaviour performance in nonanemic, iron-defficient infants. Pediatrics 1983; 71(6): 877–880.
Lozoff B, Brittenham G, Viteri F, Wolf A, Urrutia J. Developmental defficits in iron-defficient infants: Effects of age and severity of iron lack. J Pediatr 1982; 101: 948–952.
Pollitt E, Hathirat P, Kotchabhakdi NJ, Missell L, Valyasevi A. Iron defficiency and educational achievement in Thailand. Am J Clin Nutr 1989; 50(3 Suppl): 687–696.
Andelman MB, Sered BR. Utilisation of dietary iron by term infants. Am J Dis Child 1966; 111: 45–55.
ALSWH. Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health Data Book. Research Centre for Gender and Health, Newcastle: Australia, 1996.
Prasad AN, Prasad C. Iron defficiency; non-hematological manifestations. Prog Food Nutr Sci 1991; 15(4): 255–283.
Lozoff B. Behavioral alterations in iron defficiency. Adv Pediatr 1988; 35: 331–359.
Groner JA, Holtzman NA, Charney E, Mellits ED. A randomized trial of oral iron on tests of short-term memory and attention span in young pregnant women. J Adolesc Health Care 1986; 7(1): 44–48.
Bruner AB, Joffe A, Duggan AK, Casella JF, Brandt J. Randomised study of cognitive effects of iron supplementation in non-anaemic iron-defficient adolescent girls. Lancet 1996; 348(9033): 992–996.
Patterson AJ. Iron defficiency in Australian women: development, implications and treatment. PhD Thesis, University of Newcastle, Australia, 1999.
Brown WJ, Bryson L, Byles JE, et al. Women's Health Australia: Recruitment for a national longitudinal cohort study. Women and Health 1998; 28: 2.
Ware J, Kosinski M, Keller S. SF-36 physical and mental health summary scales: a user's manual. Boston, Massachusetts: The Health Institute, New England Medical Centre, 1994.
SAS Institute Inc. SAS/STAT User's Guide, Version 6 (4th ed) Vol 2. SAS Institute Inc: Gary, NC 1989.
Gardner G, Edgerton V, Senewiratne B, Barnard R, Ohira Y. Physical work capacity and metabolic stress in subjects with iron defficiency anemia. Am J Clin Nutr 1977; 30: 910–917.
ABS – Australian Bureau of Statistics (1997). National Health Survey Australia, 1995: SF-36 Population Norms, Canberra, Australia.
Finch C, Miller L, Inamdar A, Person R, Seiler K, Mackler B. Iron defficiency in the rat. J Clin Invest 1976; 58: 447–453.
Bittman M. Juggling time: how Australian families use time, Oce of the Status of Women, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 1991.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Patterson, A.J., Brown, W.J., Powers, J.R. et al. Iron deficiency, general health and fatigue: Results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Qual Life Res 9, 491–497 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008978114650
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008978114650