In one case study, pagophagia was reported to cause iron deficiency anemia.

Pagophagy or pagophagia is eating of ice.

Pagophagia or pica for ice has been suggested to be specific, but is actually neither a specific or sensitive symptom, and is not helpful in diagnosis.

A study published in 1994 found that 8.1% of pregnant African-American women in the United States self-reported pagophagia, the ingestion of large quantities of ice and freezer frost.