Editing Anemia (section)

===Oral iron===

Nutritional iron deficiency is common in developing nations. An estimated two-thirds of children and of women of childbearing age in most developing nations are estimated to have iron deficiency without anemia with one-third of them having an iron deficiency with anemia.<ref name="pmid8901803">{{cite journal | vauthors = West CE | title = Strategies to control nutritional anemia | journal = The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition | volume = 64 | issue = 5 | pages = 789–790 | date = November 1996 | pmid = 8901803 | doi =  10.1093/ajcn/64.5.789| doi-access = free }}</ref> Iron deficiency due to inadequate dietary iron intake is rare in men and postmenopausal women. The diagnosis of iron deficiency mandates a search for potential sources of blood loss, such as gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcers or colon cancer.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}

Mild to moderate iron-deficiency anemia is treated by oral iron supplementation with [[Iron(II) sulfate|ferrous sulfate]], [[ferrous fumarate]], or [[ferrous gluconate]]. Daily iron supplements have been shown to be effective in reducing anemia in women of childbearing age.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Low |first1=MS |last2=Speedy |first2=J |last3=Styles |first3=CE |last4=De-Regil |first4=LM |last5=Pasricha |first5=SR |title=Daily iron supplementation for improving anaemia, iron status and health in menstruating women. |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |date=18 April 2016 |volume=2016 |issue=4 |pages=CD009747 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009747.pub2 |pmid=27087396|pmc=10182438 }}</ref> When taking iron supplements, stomach upset or darkening of the feces are commonly experienced. The stomach upset can be alleviated by taking the iron with food; however, this decreases the amount of iron absorbed. [[Vitamin C]] aids in the body's ability to absorb iron, so taking oral iron supplements with orange juice is of benefit.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sezer S, Ozdemir FN, Yakupoglu U, Arat Z, Turan M, Haberal M | title = Intravenous ascorbic acid administration for erythropoietin-hyporesponsive anemia in iron loaded hemodialysis patients | journal = Artificial Organs | volume = 26 | issue = 4 | pages = 366–370 | date = April 2002 | pmid = 11952508 | doi = 10.1046/j.1525-1594.2002.06888.x }}</ref>

In the anemia of chronic kidney disease, [[recombinant protein|recombinant]] [[erythropoietin]] or [[epoetin alfa]] is recommended to stimulate RBC production, and if iron deficiency and inflammation are also present, concurrent [[parenteral iron]] is also recommended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG114/Guidance/pdf/English |title=Anaemia management in people with chronic kidney disease &#124; Guidance and guidelines &#124; NICE |date=9 February 2011 |access-date=2013-08-09 |url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130624124919/http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG114/Guidance/pdf/English |archive-date=2013-06-24  }}</ref>