Iron — why is it important, and how do I know if I am deficient?

Anaemia is one of the most common dietary disorders, and while meat and poultry are great sources of iron, plants can provide sufficient amounts

Vegetarians can maintain healthy iron levels by eating legumes, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, nuts, and seeds. Picture: iStock

It is described by the World Health Organization as “the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world” and a 2024 study of more than 100,000 adult patients in Ireland, conducted at the University of Limerick, revealed that “the burden of anaemia in the healthcare system is substantial, especially for older people”.

According to the findings published in the journal BGP Open, around 12% of Irish patients had iron-deficiency anaemia, a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy iron-rich protein haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the cells around the body, with one in eight women and one in 10 men affected.