Anemia and Vitamin D - many studies
3X higher risk of Anemia if low Vitamin D - March 2025
Serum Vitamin D Levels and Risk of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study and Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Food Sci Nutr . 2025 Feb 24;13(3):e4746. doi: 10.1002/fsn3.4746. eCollection 2025 Mar.
19+ VitaminDWiki pages have ANEMIA in the title
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Why is low vitamin D associated with anemia? Feb 2025
Vitamin D deficiency is associated with anemia through several key mechanisms:
Direct Effects
Vitamin D plays a crucial role in red blood cell production and has receptors in bone marrow where blood cells are formed 1 2. The presence of vitamin D receptors in hematopoietic tissues suggests that vitamin D directly stimulates erythroid precursor cells, which are responsible for red blood cell formation 2.
Inflammatory Pathway
Vitamin D helps regulate inflammation in the body by modulating cytokine production 2. When vitamin D levels are low, there may be increased inflammation, which can lead to anemia of chronic disease. This is supported by findings that patients with vitamin D deficiency often have higher ferritin levels, indicating increased systemic inflammation 2.
Iron Absorption
Vitamin D is necessary for proper iron absorption 1 5. Without adequate vitamin D, the body may struggle to utilize iron effectively, even when iron levels are sufficient.
Statistical Evidence
Research has shown significant correlations between vitamin D deficiency and anemia:
Vitamin D-deficient individuals have a 1.9 times higher risk of developing anemia compared to those with normal vitamin D levels 2
49% of vitamin D-deficient subjects were found to have anemia, compared to 36% in those with normal vitamin D levels 2
The association is particularly strong in females and in cases of iron deficiency anemia 3
While vitamin D deficiency and anemia frequently occur together, it's important to note that vitamin D deficiency usually doesn't directly cause anemia but rather contributes to its development through these various mechanisms 4.
VitaminDWiki – Overview Iron Supplements and Vitamin D contains
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