Fight iron deficiency, Improve your immunity!

March 29, 2020

Iron deficiency and the immune system

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide. Not only does it affect each individual by its side effects and symptoms, but it also results into socioeconomic issues. One of the important roles of iron in the body is to maintain the immune system function. A community with weak immune system will not be able to survive during breakouts and epidemics. Unfortunately this will lead to social, economic and financial damage to both people and government.

We all heard about the role of vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D on our immune system. The key point in using these micronutrients is that we have to put them in our regular diet for the proper result. Adding them in time of disease or to prevent them, might be comforting but it actually will not be very useful.

Talking about rich diet and healthy lifestyle, it is essential to know how to add these micronutrients to our regular dishes. Traditionally, green leafy vegetables are the ones known to have the most vitamins and minerals. So let’s stick to the traditions and use these veggies more often.

What about iron deficiency? How is iron important in regulating our immune system? Does iron deficiency suppress it? To truly understand iron’s role in immune system first we should know more about the immune system.

Our immune system has three leading tasks to do:
  • To recognise, attack and remove the germs from the body. Germs which are harmful are among one of the followings: bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
  • To identify and fight with the harmful changes of the cells and organs, for example cancer cells.
  • To spot and clear away the external particles that may have invaded our body, like dust or other allergens.

In order to achieve these three, the immune system has two main pathways. Innate and adaptive immune system, both join forces to defeat germs and harms.

  • Innate immune system is the first line in our defense system. Also known as the nonspecific immune system, it provides a general immunity and defense against harms by using physical barriers. The skin, blood chemicals, and immune cells like the ones called “eating cells” are examples of the latter. Innate immune system has an important role in attacking the germs and substances which enter our body from the digestive system, the respiratory system or the skin.
  • Adaptive immune system, known as the specific immune system, protects our body against specific germs or substances by producing what is called antibodies. When a germ for example, enters your body, antibodies will be released in order to make the germ inactive. There are also some type of specific cells which will attack the germs. When this happens, your body will remember that specific germ or substance. Therefor it will not let it attack you again.

 

So let’s find out the iron’s role! Iron is essential in developing immune system cells. As said before these cells protect us by releasing different types of substances and by attacking the germs themselves. Iron deficiency will lead to the reduction of such cells and their secretion.

Another important issue to consider is that lack of iron will result in non-intact skin. Intact skin is a great barrier against lots of viruses and bacteria. Therefor not having one will be dangerous.

To summarise laboratory evidence, iron deficiency depresses certain aspects of cell-mediated immunity, including lymphocyte, neutrophil and macrophage function. Iron deficiency increases infection susceptibility, especially those due to intracellular pathogens. Iron supplementation can reverse each of these defects.

Which groups are at the most risk for iron deficiency and its compromised immune system?

  • Elderlies

The older you get, the weaker your immune system will be. Iron deficiency is not that common in elderlies. But seniors who live alone or live in a nursing home are at more risk for being iron deficient due to nutritional lacks. With having immune system weakness, added iron deficiency will result in worsen immunity status.

  • Pregnant women
  • Individuals suffering from immunodeficiency diseases
  • Patients who have a chronic disease
  • The ones who use an immunosuppressant medication

These groups are the ones who are at most risk for compromised immune system, in addition to being at risk of iron deficiency. But iron deficiency related immunosuppression is not limited to these groups. Iron supplementation may not make a sudden improvement in your immune system, however it will make it stronger and more sufficient in the long term. So make sure to find the best iron supplement which has the least side effects for yourself and your loved ones.

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