Why is iron so important for health?
Iron is an essential nutrient that plays a wide range of roles in the human body. Perhaps most famously, it is an important component of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.
It is also important for a range of metabolic processesTrusted Source, including DNA synthesis and energy production.
A common condition caused by low iron stores is iron deficiency anemia, but inadequate iron is also associated with a range of other health conditions.
For instance, according to the authors of the new study, iron deficiency is also linked to:
restless leg syndrome
decreased physical ability
impaired brain function
heart failure
increased risk of death