Enough was enough when Stephanie Saunders got sick for the fourth time in a matter of months. Photo: Sittixay Ditthavong/AAP PHOTOS

Australian women are facing a silent epidemic of fatigue, brain fog and illness often caused by iron and vitamin D deficiencies, with experts saying early testing is critical to help treat it.

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More than one in five Australians overall are deficient in vitamin D while approximately two million are iron deficient.

Women are more likely to lack iron than men due to blood loss in menstruation and having higher iron requirements.

Iron supports energy and i

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