Researchers may be on the trail of a new treatment for iron deficiency.

A team at the Medical College of Georgia discovered the protein neogenin helps regulate the body's iron levels. Developing a drug that targets the protein, located on the cell surface, may help increase or decrease iron levels as needed.

Iron is an essential nutrient found in meats, beans and spinach. All cells in our body use it, but mainly, red blood cells rely on it to deliver oxygen throughout the body. Low iron levels, or anemia, can cause symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, or worse, heart attack or stroke. Too much iron in the body can damage organs, like the liver.