Helping those with iron deficiency reach their potential through better iron health.
Iron deficiency is one of the most common – and most overlooked – health issues, particularly affecting women and girls. It causes exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, low mood, poor concentration, and frequent illness. But it is preventable, treatable, and often missed.
IronLife and the SHINE programme are here to change that.
IronLife is the first and only organisation in the UK dedicated to iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency limits energy, wellbeing, productivity, and potential.
We work to make sure everyone, every woman, every girl, is seen, heard, and supported with earlier detection, better information, and equal access to care.
IronLife brings together researchers, health professionals, educators, and policy leaders to create real change in women’s health.
Iron expert, Professor Toby Richards explains:
“You have about 4,000 milligrammes of iron in your body. Most of that iron is used to make the red stuff in your blood cells called haemoglobin. This carries oxygen around the body to the tissues where it is needed. Iron is also vital for aerobic metabolism, where oxygen and food is used to make energy in your cells – fuelling everything from your muscles to your brain.” Our bodies are extremely efficient at recycling iron. “There is no natural way of getting rid of iron,” he says. “It is recycled and moved around the body, and around 1,000 milligrammes is stored away in ferritin – a protein that binds to iron and stores it in your body like a biscuit tin of reserves.” Problems arise when losses exceed what can be replaced. For women, heavy menstrual periods are the biggest cause. “If you’re losing more than about 80ml of blood per cycle, that’s over a litre of blood a year,” he says. “Quite simply, you can’t replace that with enough food.”
We shine a national spotlight on iron deficiency helping more people recognise symptoms and get tested earlier.
Our work includes:
Our goal: earlier detection, fewer missed diagnoses, healthier lives.
Knowledge saves lives.
Our Iron Academy learning hub provides simple, trusted information for:
We make it easy to understand iron deficiency, what to ask for, and how to get the right care.
We support high-quality studies that improve the detection and treatment of iron deficiency.
Working with universities, hospitals, and community partners, IronLife, through the SHINE programme helps:
We’re committed to driving practical, real-world solutions.
IronLife is a strong voice for health, particularly women’s health.
We push for fair access, early detection, and iron health to be taken seriously at national level.
Our policy work includes:
Our aim: a future where no person; no woman is held back by preventable ill-health.
Do you have heavy menstrual bleeding? You may be at high risk of being iron deficient.
Support our work.
Your support helps IronLife transform lives by increasing awareness, early detection, and better care for iron deficiency. Every donation strengthens our research, advocacy, and education – empowering women and girls to thrive.
Give today and help us SHINE.
