scholarly journals Iron deficiency anaemia: experiences and challenges

2018 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Stelle ◽  
Anastasia Z. Kalea ◽  
Dora I. A. Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Resource Poor ◽  
Physiological Approach ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Poor Outcomes

Iron deficiency remains the largest nutritional deficiency worldwide and the main cause of anaemia. Severe iron deficiency leads to anaemia known as iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), which affects a total of 1·24 billion people, the majority of whom are children and women from resource-poor countries. In sub-Saharan Africa, iron deficiency is frequently exacerbated by concomitant parasitic and bacterial infections and contributes to over 120 000 maternal deaths a year, while it irreparably limits the cognitive development of children and leads to poor outcomes in pregnancy.Currently available iron compounds are cheap and readily available, but constitute a non-physiological approach to providing iron that leads to significant side effects. Consequently, iron deficiency and IDA remain without an effective treatment, particularly in populations with high burden of infectious diseases. So far, despite considerable investment in the past 25 years in nutrition interventions with iron supplementation and fortification, we have been unable to significantly decrease the burden of this disease in resource-poor countries.If we are to eliminate this condition in the future, it is imperative to look beyond the strategies used until now and we should make an effort to combine community engagement and social science approaches to optimise supplementation and fortification programmes.

Multiple, large intra-abdominal cystic lesions and iron deficiency anaemia as the presenting symptoms of SDHD gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) in a young sub-Saharan woman

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. e242146
Author(s):  
Nyenyeri Lieve Darlene ◽  
Niyomwungeri Reverien ◽  
Dirk J J van Leeuwen ◽  
Deo Ruhangaza
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour ◽  
Stromal Tumour ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Cystic Lesions ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Sub Saharan

We report the case of a 27-year-old female patient from sub-Saharan Africa who presented with non-specific abdominal complaints, iron deficiency anaemia and multiple, large intra-abdominal cystic lesions on imaging. The lesions appeared to be a most unusual presentation of gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST). GIST is a sarcomatous tumour that comprises only 0.2% of all gastrointestinal (GI) tumours; it is the most common mesenchymal malignancy of the GI tract. Our patient had the succinate dehydrogenase-deficient (SDHD) subtype, identified in some 5%–10% of patients with GIST only, commonly found in women and younger patients. The differential diagnosis of intra-abdominal cystic lesions is briefly discussed, including the relevance of a correct pathological diagnosis. This impacts medical and surgical management decisions, including predicting response to targeted therapy. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy has been a breakthrough in the treatment of GISTs, although with extensive disease, and certainly in case of the SDHD subtype, long-term outcome remains disappointing.

scholarly journals Production And Use Of A Shelf-Stable Bovine Blood Powder For Food Fortification As A Food-Based Strategy To Combat Iron Deficiency Anaemia In Sub-Saharan Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 01-18
Author(s):  
JK Kikafunda ◽  
◽  
P Sserumaga ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Bovine Blood ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Shelf Stable ◽  
Very High

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most widespread micro-nutrient deficiency disease world-wide, particularly in developing countries. Although there are several strategies to combat IDA, food-based strategies are the most sustainable and yet little research has been carried out in this area. The study aimed at developing a technology for processing and preserving bovine blood into a shelf-stable powder, which would easily be utilised in fortifying commonly consumed food items, as a food-based strategy in the fight against iron deficiency anaemia. A shelf-stable powder was processed from fresh bovine blood and the physical, chemical, microbiological and shelf-life characteristics assessed using conventional methods. The results of the chemical analysis showed that bovine blood powder has a very high concentration of haeme iron at 195.46 mg/100g of powder. This is more than ten times the level of iron in bovine liver, one of the most commonly used food source of haeme iron whose iron content is only 17 mg/100gm of liver. Although microbiological tests carried out on the freshly processed blood powder and on the same powder after one and three months of storage at room temperature found a significant rise in yeast, mould and total plate counts, these values were low and within safe limits. The blood powder was used to fortify a bean sauce. Sensory analysis panellists considered the fortified bean sauce moderately acceptable with a mean score of 4.667 (like slightly) compared to a mean score of 2.333 (like very much) for the non-fortified sauce, on a nine point Hedonic scale. These findings show that processed bovine blood powder has very high levels of haeme iron and thus has great potential as a food-based strategy to combat iron-deficiency anaemia in resource-poor developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. However, more research is needed to improve the microbiological and sensory characteristics of the blood powder.

scholarly journals Schistosomiasis and associated iron-deficiency anaemia presenting decades after immigration from sub-Saharan Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. e227564
Author(s):  
Sarah Anne Leir ◽  
Oliver Foot ◽  
Dakshika Jeyaratnam ◽  
Martin Brunel Whyte
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Missed Diagnosis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Uk

Chronic schistosomiasis and its intestinal manifestations can lead to anaemia. However, schistosomiasis resulting in anaemia is rare in the UK. This report aims to raise awareness of schistosomiasis in immigrants to the UK and prevent missed diagnosis.

scholarly journals Production and Use of a Shelf-Stable Bovine Blood Powder for Food Fortification as a Food-Based Strategy to Combat Iron Deficiency Anaemia in sub-Saharan Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 05 (8) ◽  
pp. 01-17
Author(s):  
Joyce K Kikafunda ◽  
◽  
P Sserumaga
Keyword(s):  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Significant Rise ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Bovine Blood ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Shelf Stable ◽  
Very High

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most widespread micro-nutrient deficiency disease world-wide, particularly in developing countri es. Although there are several strategies to combat IDA, food-based strate gies are the most sustainabl e and yet little research has been carried out in this area. The study ai med at developing a t echnology for processing and preserving bovine blood into a shelf-stable powder, which would easily be utilised in fortifying commonly consumed food items, as a food-based strategy in the fight against iron deficiency anaemia. A shelf-stable powd er was processed from fresh bovine blood and the physical, chemical, mi crobiological and sh elf-life characterist ics assessed using conventional methods. The resu lts of the chemical analysis showed that bovine blood powder has a very high concentration of ha eme iron at 195.46 mg/100g of powder. This is more than ten times the level of iron in bovine liv er, one of the most commonly used food source of haeme iron whose iron content is only 17 mg/ 100gm of liver. Although microbiological tests carried out on the fres hly processed bl ood powder and on the same powder after one and three months of storage at room temperature found a significant rise in yeast, mould and total plate counts, these values were low and within safe limits. The blood powder was used to fortify a bean sauce. Se nsory analysis panellists considered the fortified bean sauce moderately acceptabl e with a mean score of 4.667 (like slightly) compared to a mean score of 2.333 (like very much) for the non-fortified sauce, on a nine point Hedonic scale. These findings show that pr ocessed bovine blood powder has very high levels of haeme iron and thus has great potential as a food-based strategy to combat iron-defic iency anaemia in resource-p oor developing countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa. Ho wever, more research is needed to improve the microbiological and sensory char acteristics of the blood powder

scholarly journals Health and food safety concerns of early dietary introduction of unmodified cow milk to infants in developing countries

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (61) ◽  
pp. 8504-8517
Author(s):  
EL Ssemukasa ◽  
◽  
J Kearney ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Breast Milk ◽  
Iron Deficiency ◽  
Infant Feeding ◽  
Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Cow Milk ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Deficiency Anaemia ◽  
Early Introduction ◽  
Sub Saharan

The timing of introduction of unmodified cow milk is critical in infant feeding. The objective of this review is to explore the underlying reasons f or the early dietary introduction of unmodified cow milk to infant diets in the sub- Saharan African countries and also to assess the health and food safety concern s for its early introduction. Public health organisations including the America n Academy of Paediatrics recommend that unmodified cow milk should not become part of infant diet before 12 months. Despite the recommendations and the evidence for an increased risk of multiple adverse health outcomes, the prevalence of early weaning and the early introduction of unmodified cow milk remain high in sub-Saharan African countries such as Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia. Return to paid employment, inconsistent infant feeding advice from clinical professionals and maternal sickness are often the registered reasons by the mothers for the early introduction of breast milk substitutes. Therefore, parents should be educated on the health and food safety concerns of early introduction of unmodified cow milk. Unlike breast milk, unmodified cow milk does not provide a balanced diet for infant s aged below 12 months. It contains excessive levels of protein, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium and insufficient levels of iron, vitamin C, and linoleic acid for human infant requirements. Consequently, the early introduction of unmodified cow milk is associated with risks of iron deficiency anaemia, protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome and increased renal solute load. Moreover, the introduction of unmodified cow milk into the infant diets should be delayed as long as possible to prevent the nutritional, health and food safety risks associated with its earlier introduction. It is also important that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months in sub -Saharan African countries is promoted as it will extend breastfeeding benefits of prevention of iron deficiency anaemia and provide protection against infant nutritional childhood infections. Mothers should also be taught about proper infant feeding practices.

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