Eating Meat but Still Iron Deficient? Here's Likely Why!

A major study conducted through a scientific collaboration between the Netherlands and Mexico has yielded quite surprising results regarding iron deficiency. It turns out that even individuals who consume enough meat can develop anemia, and according to the study's findings, this may be due to... being overweight!

According to the researchers, low iron levels found in people suffering from overweight issues were simultaneously manifested by low transferrin levels (a specific value in blood tests). Although it is generally thought that those who are overweight surely consume a sufficient amount of animal-based products such as meat, poultry, and fish—which contain iron—the study found that the deficiency results from poor iron absorption. Iron struggles to be absorbed into the bloodstream in overweight individuals, even though they consume foods rich in iron. 

How is this possible? It seems the answer lies in a protein called hepcidin, which is secreted by the liver when it becomes excessively fatty due to overeating. Hepcidin is responsible for inhibiting iron absorption into the bloodstream, and when it binds to another protein called ferroportin, it disrupts its path to the iron as well. 

And if you fall within the overweight category, here's another reason to diet and maintain a healthy body weight, which will prevent iron deficiency and other complications.