Iron absorption remains a critical bottleneck in nutrition: despite consuming 10–20 mg daily through diet, healthy adults absorb only 3–15% of this amount. However, the body demonstrates remarkable efficiency by recycling approximately 25 mg of iron daily from senescent red blood cells—a conservation mechanism that reduces dietary dependence but fails entirely if haemolysis accelerates. Folate and vitamin B12 follow different kinetics: folate depletes within months if intake ceases, while B12 stores persist for years due to hepatic recycling, though absorption requires intrinsic factor—a distinction vital for distinguishing primary nutritional deficiency from malabsorption disorders. Deficiency in all three nutrients creates complex anaemia that masks underlying causes, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Clinicians must evaluate the entire triad rather than addressing isolated nutrients, as supplementing one nutrient without correcting others perpetuates systemic dysfunction. Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
Was this article helpful?
