31/08/2026
I don’t know who needs to hear this but being low in iron is not always an iron problem…..
Most doctors see a low number on a blood test and prescribe an iron supplement. But if the root cause is not actually low iron intake, supplementing may be making the situation worse.
Here are 5 root causes of low iron that have nothing to do with how much iron you are eating:
1. Pathogens that thrive on iron: candida, gut dysbiosis, E. coli, salmonella, H. pylori and MRSA all require iron for growth, metabolism and replication. They compete for it aggressively. Supplementing iron in the presence of these pathogens feeds the infection.
2. Chronic inflammation and infection: ongoing infections and autoimmune conditions trigger hepcidin the hormone that blocks iron absorption and locks iron into storage. Your iron levels look low on paper. The iron is actually trapped.
3. Gut inflammation and malabsorption: coeliac disease, Crohn’s, leaky gut and SIBO damage the intestinal lining where iron is absorbed. You can eat iron all day and absorb almost none of it.
4. Low stomach acid: iron requires adequate stomach acid to be properly absorbed. Low stomach acid is one of the most common and most missed root causes of iron deficiency in women.
5. Copper or B12 deficiency: both are essential for iron metabolism and red blood cell production. A deficiency in either impairs iron utilisation even when iron intake is completely adequate.
6. And one more, oestrogen dominance. When the liver and digestive system are not clearing excess oestrogen efficiently women experience heavier periods. Heavier periods deplete iron stores. The iron problem is actually a hormone problem.