Which nutrient deficiency causes iron-deficiency anemia?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A woman with curly hair and a handbag shops at a busy outdoor farmer's market in Bulgaria, surrounded by stalls filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. — nutrition Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet.

Iron-deficiency anemia is caused by a deficiency of the mineral iron.1

This condition occurs when the body's iron stores are depleted, often due to high iron loss, inadequate dietary intake, or inefficient metabolism of the mineral. Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin, the blood pigment responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body. When iron levels are insufficient, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, leading to the development of microcytic hypochromic anemia, which is characterized by small red blood cells.12