Migraine and Iron Deficiency: Could Low Iron Be a Clue?

Could fatigue, dizziness, brain fog, feeling cold, and migraine be pointing to something deeper, like low iron stores?

In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, Diane Ducarme explores the connection between iron, energy, oxygen delivery, brain function, and migraine and why low iron can sometimes be missed when we look only at hemoglobin.

You’ll learn:

💡 Why low iron may affect much more than your energy — and potentially make a migraine-prone nervous system more vulnerable

💡 Why ferritin can reveal depleted iron stores even when your blood count appears normal

💡 Simple ways to support iron intake, plus why finding the reason behind low iron matters just as much as replacing it

You’ll also discover how heavy periods, blood loss, diet, and absorption can contribute to depletion and why symptoms are often clues worth investigating rather than problems to look at in isolation.

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References:

• The Bidirectional Relationship Between Iron Deficiency Anemia and Chronic Headache Disorders (Rohilla et al., 2025): This meta-analysis found a significant association between iron-deficiency anemia and chronic headache disorders. Read more here.
• Association Between Dietary Iron Intake and Serum Ferritin and Severe Headache or Migraine (Meng et al., 2021): This study links iron intake and ferritin levels with migraine or severe headache in some women. Read more here.
• Association Between Anemia Severity and Migraine in Iron Deficiency Anemia (Sari & Kama Başci, 2024): Lower ferritin was associated with greater migraine pain and headache impact. Read more here.
• Is There Any Correlation Between Migraine Attacks and Iron Deficiency Anemia? A Case-Control Study (Tayyebi et al., 2019): This study found associations between migraine and iron deficiency, particularly among women. Read more here.
• Is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Associated With Migraine? Is There a Role for Anxiety and Depression? (Pamuk et al., 2016): This study found migraine was common among patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Read more here.
• Association Between Iron Deficiency Anemia and Chronic Daily Headache: A Case-Control Study (Singh et al., 2023): Iron-deficiency anemia was independently associated with chronic daily headache. Read more here.
• Iron Deficiency Without Anaemia: A Diagnosis That Matters (Al-Naseem et al., 2021): This review explains how iron deficiency can occur despite normal hemoglobin levels. Read more here.
• British Society of Gastroenterology Guidelines for the Management of Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Adults (Snook et al., 2021): These guidelines explain how ferritin and other iron markers are used to diagnose iron deficiency. Read more here.
• Non-Anaemic Iron Deficiency (Balendran & Forsyth, 2021): This review covers low iron stores despite normal hemoglobin and their clinical management. Read more here.
• Iron in the Migraine Brain (Tepe, Yemisci & Karatas, 2025): This review explores iron deficiency, iron overload, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation in migraine. Read more here.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for health-related concerns.