Archive · 9 Sep 2026
Five Lesser-Known Signs That May Point to Low Iron
Iron is a mineral your body uses to carry oxygen in the blood.
If you do not have enough, you may feel tired or weak.
You might also have trouble concentrating, feel cold, lose hair or develop brittle nails.
Some people crave unusual things, such as ice.
These clues can have other causes, so they do not prove that someone has low iron.
Low iron can happen when a person eats too little iron, cannot absorb it well or loses blood.
Severe deficiency can lead to iron-deficiency anaemia.
A doctor can use blood tests to check the cause.
People should not take iron supplements without medical advice because too much iron can be harmful.
Iron helps the body make haemoglobin and supports energy, brain function, muscles and immunity.
Less familiar possible signs include poor concentration, feeling unusually cold, hair fall, brittle nails and craving ice.
Iron deficiency can result from low dietary intake, absorption problems or blood loss, including heavy menstrual or gastrointestinal bleeding.
Severe deficiency may cause iron-deficiency anaemia, affecting daily energy and physical performance.
Doctors advise confirming deficiency with blood tests before taking supplements because unnecessary iron can be harmful and excess iron may damage organs.
- Who
- People with possible iron deficiency; Edwina Raj and Dr Satish Koul provided expert comments.
- What
- The article explains lesser-known signs, causes and risks of iron deficiency and iron overload.
- When
- No specific date or timeframe is stated.
- Where
- The experts are identified with Aster CMI Hospital in Bangalore and Fortis Memorial Research Institute in Gurugram.
- Why
- To explain how low or excessive iron can affect the body and why medical testing is important.
- Main function
- Iron helps make haemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- Possible lesser-known signs
- Poor concentration, feeling cold, hair fall, brittle nails and cravings such as eating ice.
- Possible causes
- Insufficient dietary iron, difficulty absorbing iron, heavy menstrual bleeding or gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Severe deficiency
- It can cause iron-deficiency anaemia, affecting daily energy and physical performance.
- Testing advice
- Persistent symptoms should be discussed with a doctor and confirmed through appropriate blood tests.
- Supplement warning
- Unnecessary iron can be harmful, while excess iron may deposit in organs and cause organ failure.
- Reported daily needs
- The article says menstruating females need at least 20–25 mg daily, compared with 15–17 mg for men of a similar age group.