Evaluate need for mineral and accessory nutrient supplementation -Sofia 27 year Old female Case Study

Evaluate need for mineral and accessory nutrient supplementation -Sofia 27 year female Case Study

Sofia’s Mineral Deficiency

Based on Sofia’s symptoms, she may have an iron deficiency. Iron is essential for the formation of haemoglobin in red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the body’s tissues (Patel & Katz, 2019). Iron is also needed for energy production, and low iron levels can result in fatigue, shortness of breath, and hair loss.

Sofia’s vegetarian diet may be a contributing factor, as plant-based sources of iron are less bioavailable than animal sources. Additionally, her heavy menstrual cycles may lead to increased iron loss. Sofia’s BMI is also lower, and low body weight can be a risk factor for iron deficiency (Patel & Katz, 2019).

Sofia’s physician may order blood tests to confirm the diagnosis of iron deficiency, including a complete blood count and ferritin level. Her physician may recommend iron supplementation or dietary changes to increase iron intake if she is diagnosed with iron deficiency.

Iron Deficiency in Bloodwork

If Sofia went to see her doctor, an iron deficiency might appear in her bloodwork. The most common parameters to be checked include her hemoglobin, hematocrit, and ferritin levels (Patel & Katz, 2019). Haemoglobin and hematocrit measure the number of red blood cells and their ability to carry oxygen, while ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body.

In cases of iron deficiency, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels can be reduced as the body struggles to produce enough red blood cells. Ferritin levels can also decrease as the body uses its iron stores (Patel & Katz, 2019). However, it is important to note that inflammation, liver disease, and certain infections can also affect ferritin levels, so additional tests may be needed to confirm an iron deficiency diagnosis.

Recommendations to Correct Iron Deficiency

If Sofia is diagnosed with an iron deficiency, her physician may recommend dietary changes and/or iron supplementation to correct the deficiency. To increase her iron intake, Sofia can incorporate more iron-rich foods, such as leafy green vegetables, beans, tofu, fortified cereals, and nuts and seeds (Agarwal et al., 2021). Vitamin C can also help increase iron absorption, so pairing iron-rich foods with citrus fruits, tomatoes, or bell peppers can be beneficial.

If her physician recommends iron supplements, Sofia should follow their instructions carefully, as too much iron can be harmful. Iron supplements can cause constipation, so staying hydrated and eating high-fibre foods is important to prevent this side effect (Agarwal et al., 2021).

To prevent future iron deficiencies, Sofia can continue prioritizing iron-rich foods and ensure she meets her daily recommended intake. As a vegetarian, it may be especially important for her to pair iron-rich plant foods with vitamin C to maximize absorption (Agarwal et al., 2021). Managing heavy menstrual bleeding through medication or other interventions may help reduce iron loss.

Risks of High Triglyceride Levels

A high triglyceride level in the blood can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially when accompanied by other risk factors such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Elevated triglycerides are associated with the development of atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack or stroke (Mozaffarian & Wu, 2019). Additionally, high triglycerides can contribute to the development of fatty liver disease.

References

Agarwal, R., Virmani, S., & Sharma, S. (2021). Iron deficiency anemia: An overview. Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, 37(2), 211-218. doi: 10.1007/s12288-020-01291-6

Moriarty, P. M., & Varvel, S. A. (2019). Nonstatin therapy for managing high triglycerides. Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 21(5), 16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-019-0772-2

Mozaffarian, D., & Wu, J. H. (2019). Flavonoids, dairy foods, and cardiovascular and metabolic health: A review of emerging biologic pathways. Circulation Research, 124(2), 212-229. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.118.312176

Patel, D. P., & Katz, J. T. (2019). Iron-deficiency anemia. Current Opinion in Hematology, 26(2), 103-110. doi: 10.1097/

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Unit 6 Assignment: Case studies

Unit outcomes addressed in this assignment:

Identify deficiency states associated with each mineral.
Identify treatments for mineral deficiencies.
Define what an accessory nutrient is.
Be able to determine why each of these accessory nutrients would be recommended.

Evaluate the need for mineral and accessory nutrient supplementation -Sofia 27 year Old female Case Study

Course outcome addressed in this assignment:

HW205-3: Evaluate the need for mineral and accessory nutrient supplementation.

Case Studies

Sofia

Sofia is a 27-year-old female who has developed significant fatigue. She says that she feels tired almost every day despite getting adequate amounts of sleep. Drinking coffee helps, but she limits herself to one cup in the morning. She does not feel anxious or depressed and states that overall, her stress level is “not that high.” She loves her job working as an administrative assistant for an advertising agency and is newly engaged to her longtime boyfriend. She has maintained a healthy plant-based vegetarian diet for the past three years, avoiding all animal-derived foods. She is not on any medication but takes a B vitamin complex, as well as a calcium supplement with Vitamin D daily. Her body mass index is 18.7. She exercises three times a week for about 40-60 minutes, mostly running, hiking and sometimes biking. She will lift weights occasionally as well. During exercise, she says that she notices a little shortness of breath but nothing terribly concerning. Her menstrual cycles have been regular but noticeably heavier over the past year. She also notices that her hair is shedding a lot, but she can’t tell if it is more than normal. She says that she sees more in the shower drain and in her hair brush.

What mineral deficiency does Sofia most likely have? Be sure to explain why she may have developed this deficiency and what symptoms are associated with it.
If she went to see her doctor, would this deficiency show up in her bloodwork? What blood parameters would most likely be affected?
What advice would you give Sofia to help correct her deficiency, and how should she prevent this in the future?