The incidence of iron deficiency anemia increases with aging. Iron deficiency often occurs in women who are still in the reproductive stage. However, both postmenopausal women and men in the 50-year-old bracket suffer from high incidence of the disease owing to four diseases, namely, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcers, angiodysplastic lesions of the colon and large hiatal hernias. Thus, the indiscriminate prescription of iron supplements to older women is not recommended.

How common is iron deficiency among postmenopausal women? What are your recommendations regarding iron supplements for these patients? MD

In contrast to the high frequency of iron deficiency among women of reproductive age, ...