title: Nonhematological benefits of iron.
abstract: Iron deficiency anemia is common in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its importance in supporting erythropoiesis is unquestioned especially in those patients treated with erythropoietin. Clinical symptomatology such as fatigability, cold intolerance, failure to concentrate and poor effort intolerance is often attributed to anemia or uremia. That iron deficiency, per se, can cause these symptoms is poorly recognized. Clinical and animal studies that support the benefits of iron supplementation, independent of increasing hemoglobin, such as those on immune function, physical performance, thermoregulation, cognition, and restless leg syndrome and aluminum absorption is the subject of this narrative review.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, and Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. ragarwal@iupui.edu
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051381:Rats; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications