English: Figure 2. The pathogenesis mechanism of IDA depends on both accessibility of nutrients and their absorption. Socioeconomic and cultural factors influence the dietary amount and its composition. Diet and other environmental factors impact both accessibility and absorption, which increase RDA and pose risks of inadequate intake. Gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation and dysbiosis caused by metabolic and genetic diseases, parasites, and infections lead to inadequate intake of iron and other critical nutrients and, consequently, IDA. The mild and moderate characteristic features associated with IDA are fatigue, weakness, koilonychia, pica, and pallor, ultimately resulting in the major impairments of growth, motor, and cognitive performance.