Can iron deficiency anemia cause low white blood cell count?

Iron deficiency anemia may lead to low white blood cell count. When the body's demand for iron is out of balance with supply, stored iron in the body becomes depleted and iron within red blood cells diminishes, eventually resulting in iron deficiency anemia. It is characterized by microcytic hypochromic anemia and other abnormalities caused by iron deficiency. The changes in white blood cells associated with iron deficiency anemia are nonspecific and white blood cell counts may be normal or decreased.