Clinical disorders of iron metabolism in the elderly.

When iron deficiency occurs in the elderly, it is usually due to bleeding and not to nutritional lack or malabsorption. Iron deficiency early in life may lead to irreversible changes (for example, gastric achlorhydria) that are troublesome in later life. The nonhematologic effects of iron deficiency still need to be studied in the elderly. In particular, the role of iron in brain metabolism would seem important in geriatrics. Although it is important to prevent iron deficiency, indiscriminate use of iron could conceivably lead to iron overload. As with many beneficial compounds, patients must be cautioned against the prolonged ingestion of large amounts of iron salts.