Iron Deficiency and Its Impact on Atopic Disorders
Summary
Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional disorders worldwide, affecting roughly a third of the population. Beyond its well-known role in erythropoiesis and oxygen transport, iron availability profoundly influences immune function. Low iron status skews macrophage and lymphocyte activity towards a type 2 helper T-cell (Th2) phenotype, promotes immunoglobulin class switching, and primes mast cells for degranulation. Many allergens, particularly those in the lipocalin family, can sequester iron via siderophores, creating a locally iron-depleted microenvironment that favours Th2 dominance and allergic sensitisation. Epidemiological data link maternal and childhood iron deficiency with increased risk of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and asthma, while interventions that restore iron balance—through dietary supplementation or nutrient-carrying proteins—show promise in reducing symptom severity. These findings highlight a bidirectional relationship in which iron deficiency exacerbates allergic inflammation, and chronic atopic disease can perpetuate functional iron restriction through inflammatory pathways.
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Iron Deficiency and Its Impact on Atopic Disorders publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in iron deficiency and its impact on atopic disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Th2 cells: A subset of helper T lymphocytes that produce cytokines driving allergic inflammation and immunoglobulin E production.
Siderophores: Low-molecular-weight iron-chelating molecules secreted by microbes and some allergens to capture iron from the host environment.
Antigen presentation: The display of processed peptide–MHC complexes by dendritic cells or macrophages to T cells, initiating adaptive immune responses.
Mast cell degranulation: The release of histamine and other mediators from mast cells upon activation, leading to immediate hypersensitivity symptoms.
References
- Nutritional Provision of Iron Complexes by the Major Allergen Alt a 1 to Human Immune Cells Decreases Its Presentation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Linking iron-deficiency with allergy: role of molecular allergens and the microbiome. Metallomics (2017).
- Iron-Deficiency in Atopic Diseases: Innate Immune Priming by Allergens and Siderophores. Frontiers in Allergy (2022).
- Association between atopic disease and anemia in pediatrics: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatrics (2019).
- Maternal iron status during pregnancy and respiratory and atopic outcomes in the offspring: a Mendelian randomisation study. BMJ Open Respiratory Research (2018).
- Iron Supplementation Decreases Severity of Allergic Inflammation in Murine Lung. PLOS ONE (2012).
- Long-term benefits of targeted micronutrition with the holoBLG lozenge in house dust mite allergic patients. Allergo Journal International (2022).
- Investigating the Links between Lower Iron Status in Pregnancy and Respiratory Disease in Offspring Using Murine Models. Nutrients (2021).
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