Patient was educated on the causes of iron deficiency as follows:

• Malnutrition

1. Poor intake in malnourished patients can result in iron deficiency.
2. Major source of iron is dietary iron. Poor intake of iron containing foods can contribute to iron deficiency anemia.

• Food choices

1. Heme iron is mainly present in the meat sources of iron and easily absorbed by the body than non-heme iron.
2. Vegetarians rely more on plant sources, which contain nonheme iron that is difficult to be absorbed by the body.
3. So, individuals relying more on vegetarian diets can be at increases risk for iron deficiency.

• Chronic blood loss

1. Patients with gastric ulcers, bleeding hemorrhoids, colon polyps can lose small amounts of blood continuously over prolonged periods of time, which can lead to chronic iron deficiency.
2. Use of uncoated aspirin may also increase the chances of gastrointestinal bleeding, contributing to development of chronic iron deficiency.

• Menstruation

1. Women in menstruating age group lose significant amount of iron during the period every month. Sometimes, the periods can be unusually severe and bleeding can significantly increase. This acute loss of iron during menstruation can increase the risk for acute iron deficiency anemia.
2. Women in menstruating age group lose significant amount of iron during the period every month. This periodical loss of iron over prolonged timeframe can lead to chronic iron deficiency anemia.