Low iron levels can cause fatigue and hair loss in thyroid patients.
That lowers the production of red blood cells and triggers anemia.
In most cases, the deficiencies were sparked by an iron-poor diet that existed before the thyroid diagnosis.
Verywell / Elise Degarmo
An overactive thyroid gland produces high amounts of ferritin.
It seems logical that increasing iron storage would prevent anemia.
The opposite is often true, though.
High ferritin appears to trigger an inflammatory response that prevents the body from using iron normally.
This is seen most often inGraves' disease(autoimmune hyperthyroidism).
Graves' is associated with IDA and low levels of several kinds of blood cells.
What Are the Symptoms of Iron Deficiency?
Symptoms of iron deficiency and thyroid disease are similar, making it hard to spot iron deficiency or IDA.
How Is Iron Deficiency With Thyroid Disease Diagnosed?
Iron deficiency is diagnosed with aserum ferritintest.
It measures the amount of iron storage in your body.
If results are low, you’ll be diagnosed with iron deficiency.
If they’re high, it can help confirm a hyperthyroidism diagnosis.
Serum ferritin is not a routine part of yourcomplete blood count(CBC).
Your healthcare provider will need to order it separately.
If you’re paying out of pocket, the test will likely cost between $25 and $50.
Results are usually back within two days (depending on your lab).
How Is Iron Deficiency With Thyroid Disease Treated?
Iron deficiency alongside hyperthyroidism usually doesn’t require treatment.
It typically goes away with hyperthyroidism treatment.
It may involve iron supplements and/oran iron-rich diet.
Iron Supplementation
Aniron supplementis typically prescribed to treat iron deficiency in people with thyroid disease.
Your healthcare provider will likely re-test your serum ferritin after 30 to 60 days of treatment.
you might stay on the supplement for up to four months.
The dosage is gradually decreased as levels get back to normal.
If you’re takinglevothyroxine, take your iron supplement three to four hours before or after your thyroid medication.
Taking them together interferes with how your body absorbs the thyroid drug.
Don’t take larger doses of iron than your healthcare provider prescribes.
What Foods Are High in Iron for Thyroid Patients?
Adding iron-rich foods to your diet can also help you get enough iron into your blood.
For mild iron deficiency, it may be all the treatment you need.
For more extreme cases, it may be recommended along with supplements.
Iron-rich foods include:
Caffeine and calcium can interfere with iron absorption and are best avoided.
Summary
IDA and iron deficiency are common in thyroid disease and can lead to fatigue.
Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause iron deficiency and anemia.
In turn, iron deficiency can also trigger hypothyroidism.
Iron deficiency/IDA symptoms are similar to those of thyroid disease, making them hard to spot.
Your healthcare provider can order a blood test, called serum ferritin, to check your iron levels.
Treatment for iron deficiency includes thyroid replacement medication, iron supplements, and/or a high-iron diet.
Consuming vitamin C-rich foods when taking iron may improve iron absorption.
Banday T, Bhat S, Bhat S, et al.Incipient iron deficiency in primary hypothyroidism.Thyroid Res Pract.
2016 Nov 15;11(11):e0166635.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0166635
15th International Thyroid Congress program and meeting abstracts.Thyroid.2015;25 Suppl 1:P1-A337.
2017;87(5):609-616. doi:10.1111/cen.13450
NIH.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Iron-deficiency anemia.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Iron deficiency anemia.
Chan School of Public Health.Vitamin C.
Mount Sinai.Vitamin B12 (cobalamin).
2015;10(2):e0117383.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117383
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.Foods to fight iron deficiency.
2017;88(1):119127. doi:10.23750/abm.v88i1.6048
