Kolarš Bela, Mijatović Jovin Vesna, Živanović Nemanja, Minaković Ivana, Gvozdenović Nemanja, Dickov Kokeza Isidora, Lesjak Marija
Department of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
Health Center "Novi Sad", 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Jul 25;18(8):1104. doi: 10.3390/ph18081104.
Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency globally, affecting approximately one in four individuals, with a particularly high burden among children, women of reproductive age, and populations in low- and middle-income countries. It contributes significantly to the global burden of disease, with consequences ranging from impaired cognitive and motor development in children to increased risks during pregnancy, including low birth weight, preterm delivery, and maternal mortality, as well as reduced physical performance and quality of life in adults. ID often precedes iron deficiency anemia (IDA), though clinical and functional impairments-such as cognitive deficits, immune dysfunction, and fatigue-can occur even in the absence of anemia. Despite its widespread nature, challenges remain in precisely defining, diagnosing, and treating ID effectively. Advances in diagnostic tools allow for earlier detection, while novel therapeutic strategies, including updated oral dosing regimens and modern intravenous iron formulations, offer improved efficacy and tolerability. These approaches are particularly valuable in minimizing gastrointestinal side effects and enhancing patient adherence. This review is based on a comprehensive literature search conducted primarily through PubMed and Scopus, emphasizing studies published within the past 10-15 years. It is thematically structured to explore the epidemiology, health consequences, diagnostic complexities, and therapeutic developments related to ID. It highlights the multifactorial nature of ID and underscores the urgent need for early identification, targeted interventions, and updated clinical guidelines to reduce the long-term health and societal impacts of this preventable and treatable condition.
缺铁是全球最普遍的微量营养素缺乏症，约四分之一的人受其影响，在儿童、育龄妇女以及低收入和中等收入国家的人群中负担尤其沉重。它对全球疾病负担有重大影响，其后果包括儿童认知和运动发育受损、孕期风险增加，如低出生体重、早产和孕产妇死亡，以及成年人身体机能下降和生活质量降低。缺铁往往先于缺铁性贫血（IDA）出现，不过即使在没有贫血的情况下，也可能出现临床和功能损害，如认知缺陷、免疫功能障碍和疲劳。尽管缺铁情况普遍存在，但在准确界定、诊断和有效治疗缺铁方面仍存在挑战。诊断工具的进步有助于更早发现，而新的治疗策略，包括更新的口服给药方案和现代静脉铁制剂，疗效和耐受性都有所提高。这些方法在将胃肠道副作用降至最低并提高患者依从性方面特别有价值。本综述基于主要通过PubMed和Scopus进行的全面文献检索，重点关注过去10至15年内发表的研究。其按主题结构编排，旨在探讨与缺铁相关的流行病学、健康后果、诊断复杂性和治疗进展。它强调了缺铁的多因素性质，并强调迫切需要早期识别、有针对性的干预措施以及更新的临床指南，以减少这种可预防和可治疗病症对长期健康和社会的影响。
