Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) remains the most prevalent micronutrient disorder worldwide, affecting billions and contributing substantially to morbidity across all age groups. Beyond impaired haemoglobin synthesis, iron shortage disrupts cellular redox balance, culminating in oxidative stress characterised by accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In IDA, diminished iron-dependent antioxidant enzymes—such as catalase and peroxidases—exacerbate lipid, protein and DNA oxidation. Concurrently, adaptive up-regulation of non-enzymatic defences, notably glutathione, attempts to buffer ROS overload. This dynamic interplay influences erythrocyte survival, membrane integrity and systemic inflammation, with knock-on effects on cardiovascular health and neurodevelopment. Recent work has further delineated how iron repletion strategies, inflammatory cues and comorbid conditions modulate the oxidant–antioxidant axis. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for optimising therapeutic regimens that not only restore iron stores but also recalibrate redox homeostasis, thereby improving clinical outcomes in vulnerable populations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have explored redox adaptations in adolescents presenting with both obesity and anaemia. Investigators assessed erythrocyte glutathione pools and glutathione peroxidase activity, revealing that individuals with anaemia exhibited a higher reduced-to-oxidised glutathione (GSH:GSSG) ratio and enhanced peroxidase activity than non-anaemic peers. These findings suggest a compensatory reinforcement of intracellular antioxidant defences in response to combined metabolic and iron deficits. Moreover, sex and adiposity influenced redox markers, highlighting the interconnected roles of hormonal regulation, iron status and oxidative resilience. This work underscores how systemic energy balance and nutritional iron supply converge on the glutathione axis to shape cellular vulnerability to oxidative damage.

Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Status in Iron Deficiency Anemia publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in oxidative stress and antioxidant status in iron deficiency anemia across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can damage lipids, proteins and nucleic acids when not neutralised.

Oxidative stress: A state of imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defences.

Glutathione (GSH): A tripeptide thiol that serves as a primary intracellular antioxidant.

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx): An enzyme that reduces peroxides using GSH as a substrate.

Malondialdehyde (MDA): A reactive aldehyde produced by lipid peroxidation, used as a marker of oxidative damage.

References

1. Alterations in glutathione redox homeostasis among adolescents with obesity and anemia. Scientific Reports (2021).
2. Significance of malondialdehyde in Iraqi women patients with iron deficiency anemia. BIO Web of Conferences (2024).
3. Role of Oxidant/Antioxidant Status in the Pathogenesis of Iron-Deficiency Anemia: Case Study on Children of Qalyubiyya and Minoufiya Governorates, Egypt. Bulletin of the National Nutrition Institute of the Arab Republic of Egypt (2020).
4. INVESTIGATION LEVEL OF GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE, 6-PHOSPHOGLUCONATE DEHYDROGENASE, GLUTATHIONE REDUCTASE IN BLOOD OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA PATIENTS.. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (2014).