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The deficiency of iron may be absolute (there is no iron available for the production of hemoglobin - this is true iron deficiency anemia) or relative (the iron is present in storage in the marrow but other reasons prevent its incorporation into red blood cells). The type and severity of the anemia varies with time.
Iron requirements
The average amount of iron in the average adult male is 4gm and in the average adult female 2.5gm. As a result, the average adult's iron intake is in delicate balance, but is of little consequence as there is slightly more iron absorbed than lost and a store of iron is gradually accumulated. Iron absorption is decreased by the presence of phosphate, bicarbonate or bile acids. Chronic blood loss is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia.
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