Prescribing Safety Assessment (PSA) Practice Exam

What is one possible cause of iron deficiency anaemia?

1. Chronic kidney disease

2. Megaloblastic anaemia

3. Decreased dietary iron intake

4. Aplastic anaemia

The correct answer is: Decreased dietary iron intake

One possible cause of iron deficiency anemia is decreased dietary iron intake. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there is a lack of adequate iron in the body to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Dietary intake is crucial because iron is primarily obtained from the foods we consume. If a person's diet lacks sufficient iron-rich foods or if there are increased requirements for iron (such as during periods of rapid growth, pregnancy, or lactation), the iron stores in the body can become depleted, leading to anemia. In contrast, chronic kidney disease primarily affects erythropoiesis through inadequate erythropoietin production rather than directly causing iron deficiency. Megaloblastic anemia is associated with deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate, not iron. Aplastic anemia is due to bone marrow failure resulting in a reduction of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, rather than a direct deficiency of iron. Understanding these distinctions helps highlight why decreased dietary iron intake is a direct and significant factor leading to iron deficiency anemia.