Which symptom is commonly associated with iron deficiency anemia?

The symptom commonly associated with iron deficiency anemia is brittle nails. In iron deficiency anemia, the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin effectively, which can lead to a range of symptoms due to inadequate oxygen delivery to tissues. One of the physiological effects of iron deficiency is the impact on keratin, the protein that makes up nails, hair, and skin. Brittle nails can manifest as thin, weak, or easily breakable nails, which mirror the nutritional deficiencies associated with poor iron levels.

Brittle nails are a more concrete and visible indicator of iron deficiency compared to the other options. Increased appetite, sleep disturbances, and frequent headaches can occur due to various other health conditions or stressors and are not as definitive as brittle nails in indicating iron deficiency anemia. Thus, brittle nails serve as a notable clue for practitioners looking for signs of this common nutritional deficiency.