Is donkey-hide gelatin effective for iron deficiency anemia?

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on May 07, 2025
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Oral consumption of donkey-hide gelatin is ineffective for iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia requires iron supplementation treatment, but while donkey-hide gelatin is rich in collagen, it is not rich in iron, thus it is ineffective for treating iron deficiency anemia through oral consumption. For iron deficiency anemia, a diet rich in iron, such as animal liver, lean meats, and blood products, which are rich in iron, should be pursued. Additionally, it is necessary to avoid strong tea, as it contains tannins that can chelate iron and affect its absorption.

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Written by Zhang Xiao Le
Hematology
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What is the fastest way to treat iron deficiency anemia?

The treatment of iron deficiency anemia mainly includes two aspects: one is iron supplementation, and the other is identifying and correcting the underlying cause of the anemia. Iron supplementation for patients with iron deficiency anemia can be administered orally or via intravenous infusion, the latter of which tends to be faster. Generally, hemoglobin begins to rise about a week after treatment starts, and returns to normal levels within two to three weeks. Even after hemoglobin levels normalize, iron supplementation should continue for three to six months. It is more important to identify and treat the underlying causes of anemia. Common causes of iron deficiency anemia include chronic blood loss, such as from gastrointestinal ulcers or tumors. Therefore, patients with iron deficiency anemia typically need to undergo gastrointestinal endoscopy to identify the specific cause of the iron deficiency.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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What indicators are used to diagnose iron deficiency anemia?

For iron deficiency anemia, a complete blood count should first be considered. The blood count presenting as microcytic hypochromic anemia often suggests the possibility of iron deficiency anemia. Microcytic hypochromic anemia is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin, a decrease in mean corpuscular volume, a decrease in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and a decrease in mean corpuscular hemoglobin. When the complete blood count indicates the possibility of iron deficiency anemia, further investigation into iron-related indices is required, such as decreased serum iron, decreased ferritin, decreased transferrin saturation, and increased soluble transferrin receptor capacity.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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Iron deficiency anemia has the following symptoms:

The clinical manifestations and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia mainly include symptoms of both anemia and iron deficiency. Symptoms in patients with anemia often include dizziness, headache, shortness of breath and palpitations after activity, difficulty concentrating, easy fatigue, blurred vision, tinnitus, and other symptoms. There are also specific signs of iron deficiency such as cheilitis, glossitis, and atrophy of the tongue papillae. In terms of physical signs, we can find that some patients may have spoon nails. Regarding appetite, some patients may experience reduced appetite, nausea, and even constipation, all of which are general symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Severe cases may even exhibit transient syncope, visual obscurity, and pica as clinical manifestations.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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What is the fastest way to treat iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by a lack of storage iron in the body, affecting the synthesis of hemoglobin. It is characterized by a lack of available iron in tissues and organs such as bone marrow, liver, and spleen, with decreased serum iron concentration, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin levels. Typically, iron deficiency anemia presents as microcytic hypochromic anemia. Iron, as one of the essential trace elements in the human body, is contained in all functioning cells and is broadly involved in metabolic processes within the body. Therefore, the treatment principle for iron deficiency anemia involves replenishing sufficient iron until normal iron stores are restored and addressing the underlying causes that led to the iron deficiency to effectively and quickly replenish iron. Oral iron supplements are the preferred treatment option for iron deficiency anemia, such as ferrous sulfate, ferrous succinate, and iron dextran which are effective oral iron agents.

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Written by He Li Fang
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How long should iron supplements be taken for iron deficiency anemia?

First, it's important to understand that in treating iron deficiency anemia, addressing the underlying cause is the top priority. It's crucial to eliminate the causes of iron deficiency as much as possible. Solely supplementing with iron can only restore the blood picture, and neglecting the treatment of the primary illness will not lead to a thorough treatment of the anemia. Once the medication for anemia is stopped, it can easily relapse. So how long should iron supplements be taken for iron deficiency anemia? Generally, after patients start taking iron supplements, they can quickly feel an improvement in symptoms. The reticulocyte count tends to rise within three to four days after starting the supplements, reaching a peak around seven days. Hemoglobin shows a significant increase two weeks after starting the medication and can return to normal levels within one to two months. However, even after hemoglobin returns to normal, iron treatment should continue until the serum ferritin level has returned to 50 micrograms per liter before stopping the medication. If it's not possible to monitor serum ferritin, then iron supplements should be continued for three more months after hemoglobin has normalized, to replenish the body's iron stores. Therefore, the treatment of iron deficiency anemia with iron supplements generally lasts for three to six months.