B₁₂ and Iron Deficiency in the Elderly

Iron deficiency, and particularly iron deficiency as a cause of anemia, is one of the commonest nutritional deficiencies in man. According to the NHANES studies of 1999–2000, there was a 4% incidence of iron deficiency and a 2% incidence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in males over the age of 70 (1). In females of a comparable age, it was estimated that 7% were iron deficient and 2% actually had IDA. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in both developed and underdeveloped countries and, worldwide, nearly one-half billion individuals suffer from iron deficiency. [An excellent review of iron metabolism in man can be found in (2); and an in-depth overview of all aspects of iron metabolism can be found in (3).]