Iron Deficiency in Adolescents and Young Adults

In brief After childhood, iron deficiency is mainly a problem in females, but it also occurs in males aged 11 to 14 years. Inadequate dietary intake of iron is the major cause of iron deficiency, but factors such as gastrointestinal (GI) blood loss may contribute to this problem. Mild anemia may impair sports performance, and some research suggests that iron deficiency without anemia also has an adverse effect. The diagnosis of iron deficiency should be based on the patient's serum ferritin and hemoglobin concentrations. Treatment requires therapeutic doses of oral ferrous iron for several months.