Iron deficiency may be an early warning sign of colorectal cancer

A major deficiency could be an early warning sign of colorectal cancer in young people.

Colorectal cancer has long been associated with the elderly, especially people over 65. However, rates have risen steadily among adults under 50 since the 1990s.

Joel Mason, a gastroenterologist at Tufts University, recently said that rectal bleeding, a noticeable change in bowel habits and iron deficiency anemia are common symptoms that are colorectal cancer.

“I hate to raise the anxiety level of young people,” Mason said in June, “but the trends are very worrying and on balance it’s probably worth making our young population a little more alert to the symptoms to look out for. “

Iron deficiency has been called one of the most widespread nutritional problems in the world.

A recent study in JAMA Network Open reported that 29% of American adults suffer from absolute or functional iron deficiency, meaning that nearly one in three Americans may have undiagnosed iron deficiency..

An absolute iron deficiency, which is especially prevalent among women, children, vegetarians and vegans, is characterized by a severe reduction or absence of iron “stores,” according to the American Society of Hematology.

In functional iron deficiency, there are sufficient iron stores, but the body cannot use them effectively.

Iron deficiency compromises the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight disease.

Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, weakness, cold limbs, chest pain, pale skin, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and cravings for non-nutritive objects such as ice, dirt, paper and even clay.

Iron-rich foods include red meat, poultry, fish, spinach, beans, whole grains and eggs.

Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, when your red blood cell count is low because your body struggles to absorb iron, you don’t eat enough iron-rich foods, or you lose more blood than your body can replace. .

Anemia is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients, according to a 2023 study.

Dr. Waqqas Tai, a Brooklyn-based cancer specialist, recently explained: “There is no healthy reason a man should be anemic. This is the No. 1 diagnosis we look for. And for women, if you don’t have heavy periods, you also shouldn’t have low hemoglobin and thus need a colonoscopy.”

But when it comes to iron, too much can be just as dangerous as too little.

Research has found that consuming too much iron over a lifetime can increase the risk of lung and colorectal cancer. Researchers suggest that tumors use excess iron to fuel their growth.

Excess iron can also accumulate in the liver, leading to toxicity.

This is why a careful balance must be found between iron deficiency and iron overload.

“Emerging evidence indicates that reduced iron intake and low systemic iron levels are associated with the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, suggesting that optimal iron intake must be carefully balanced to avoid iron deficiency and iron overload” , write German scientists in a 2021 study published in Frontiers. in immunology.

Iron supplementation can help achieve this balance.

One study found that 14% to 18% of Americans take a supplement that contains iron.

“The iron in your body is called ‘elemental iron,'” Alannah McKay, a postdoctoral researcher in sports nutrition at the Australian Catholic University, said in August. “Choosing the right oral supplement and dosage will depend on how much elemental iron you have — your doctor will advise you exactly how much you need.”