Iron deficiency is linked to poorer brain health, heart failure, and other health concerns. A new study shows nearly 1 in 3 adults in the United States are deficient in this important nutrient.

If you have iron deficiency anemia — diagnosed with a few simple blood tests — you should take an iron supplement. Accessibility statement Skip to main content. Democracy Dies in Darkness.

By comparison, iron deficiency is rare in men, and when it occurs, it’s often a symptom of an underlying health condition, like internal bleeding in the gut, Dr. Weyand said.