scholarly journals Situation of Iron Deficiency and Its Management Prioritizing Dietary Intervention in Nepal

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 180-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
B K Adhikari ◽  
U Koirala ◽  
STA Lama ◽  
P Dahal

Background Control of iron deficiency disorders is prioritized in the nutrition policies of Nepal. The situation is still threatening the public health in both rural and urban areas. Objective There are limited reviews on the iron deficiency situation in Nepal. This study was undertaken to find out the extent of iron deficiency anemia and intake of dietary iron among the general population in Nepal. Materials and methods Published research articles, books, bulletins, and online materials regarding iron deficiency were studied in both national and international scenarios. Results Nearly 46 percent of children (6–59 months) and 35 percent of women (15–49 years) were still suffering from anemia though the trend has been decreasing for the last 15 years. Mostly, young children (6–23 months) and pregnant women were the victims due to their high iron requirements and lower intake of dietary iron. The most common risk factors related to iron deficiency anemia (IDA) found in different studies were low intake of dietary iron, vitamin A deficiency, hookworm infection, malaria, heavy menstrual blood loss, and multiparity. Iron deficiency situation in the Nepalese population is triggered by Illiteracy, lack of awareness, negligence, poor economy, food insecurity, lack of food diversity, changes in dietary behavior, cultural behaviors, poor health and sanitation, and patriarchal structure of the society. Conclusion The main risk factor of IDA is low intake of dietary iron. There is a need of multiple approaches to address IDA with more focus on dietary iron to reduce anemia.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nje.v2i2.6573 Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 2012;2(2):182-190 

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 786-786
Author(s):  
L. J. Filer ◽  
Lewis A. Barness ◽  
Richard B. Goldbloom ◽  
Malcolm A. Holliday ◽  
Robert W. Miller ◽  
...  

In its recent statement on iron,1 the Committee on Nutrition emphasized the value of iron-fortified, proprietary milk formulas for the prevention of iron-deficiency anemia of infancy. Despite this recommendation, the most recent marketing information available to the Committee shows that more than 70% of the proprietary formulas currently prescribed by physicians do not contain added iron. The reasons for continuing routine use of formulas not fortified with iron are not entirely clear. One reason may be that some physicians still believe iron additives increase the incidence of feeding problems or gastrointestinal disturbances. There is no documented evidence that this is a significant problem. The Committee strongly recommends when proprietary formulas are prescribed that iron-supplemented formulas be used routinely as the standard–that is, that this be the rule rather than the exception. There seems to be little justification for continued general use of proprietary formulas not fortified with iron. The Committee is fully aware that only a small percentage of American infants are fed proprietary formulas after 6 months of age. Fluid whole milk (available in bottle or carton ) or evaporated milk, both of which contain only trace amounts of iron, are substituted at the time of greatest iron need and highest prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia. The infant's diet is usually deficient in iron, unless other foods are carefully selected to insure adequate iron intake. Since the major dietary component during infancy is milk, two courses of action should be taken: (1) Pediatricians and other health professionals should engage in a program of public education to convince American mothers to provide their infants with a source of dietary iron.


Author(s):  
Fatima Hassan ◽  
Shafya Salim ◽  
Ayesha Humayun

AbstractBackground:  Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adolescent girls has strong health implications during re-productive years. Current research aimed to assess prevalence and determinants of iron deficiency anemia in adolescent girls of low income families residing in semi urban communities of Lahore, Pakistan.Method:  This cross sectional analytical study selected 116 unmarried adolescent girls between the ages of 13 – 19 years from low income families through convenience sampling from semi-urban communities. Dietary data was collected using 3 – day recall, whereas a self-constructed, structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic factors. Hemoglobin and serum Ferritin levels were assessed along with an assessment of clinical signs and symptoms of folate and iron deficiency. Data was enteredand analyzed using SPSS version 21.Results:  IDA was present in 68.8% of adolescent girls, of which 40.2% were moderately (8 – 10 gm/dl) and 28.8% were mildly (10.9 – 11.9 gm/dl) anemic. Working status (p < 0.041), source of dietary iron (p < 0.001), frequency of heme iron consumption (p < 0.001), protein consumption/day (p < 0.001) and HEI score (p < 0.001) showed statistically significant association with IDA. Binary regression analysis showed frequency of heme iron consumption [AOR = 29.13, 95% CI (9.627 to 88.203)] and HEI score [AOR = 6.877, 95% CI (.065 to 44.405]) to be the most significantly associated determinant of IDA. Mean Hb level was also significantly different between working and nonworking adolescents (p = 0.001, 95% CI = -1.124 to -0.322). Significant mean difference in serum Ferritin levels between working and nonworking adolescents (p = 0.04 [95% CI = -21.89 to -0.50]) was also observed. 94% and 91% girls showed signs and symptoms of iron and folate deficiency respectively. How-ever BMI, age, educational status of the girls and their parents were not found to be associated with IDA.Conclusion:  Prevalence of IDA was alarmingly high in adolescent girls of low socioeconomic class. Working status, source of dietary iron, frequency of heme iron consumption, protein consumption/day and HEI score were found to be determining anemia. Nutrition education targeting IDA is the need of the day to control and prevent this public health epidemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Matsiko ◽  
Alida Melse-Boonstra ◽  
Lisine Tuyisenge ◽  
Edith J M Feskens

Abstract Objectives In Rwanda, anemia affects 38% of all under five and 61% of those aged 9–11 months old; however, the contribution of diet to anemia remains less known. This study aimed to assess if dietary iron intake predicts the risk of anemia and iron deficiency among Rwandan children of 12 months old. Methods A longitudinal study of 192 children was conducted in 2016–2018 in a rural setting in Rwanda. We measured hemoglobin concentration, and collected blood samples from the infant-mother pairs at birth, 4 and 12 months post-partum. Plasma or serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and α-Acid Glycoprotein (AGP) concentrations were measured using sandwich ELISA technique. Body iron stores were calculated from the sTfR/Ferritin ratio. Hemoglobin and ferritin values were adjusted for altitude and infection, respectively. Dietary iron intake data were collected using a full 24-hour recall, and the intake of iron from micronutrient powders was captured by questionnaire. Predictors of anemia, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia at 12 months of age were modelled using Cox proportional hazard regression with robust variance. Results Anemia, iron deficiency (ID), and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) occurred in 73%, 56%, and 44% of the infants at 4 months, and 48%, 88% and 45% of the children at 12 months, respectively. For their mothers, anemia, ID, and IDA occurred in 12%, 59%, and 9% at 4 months, and 12%, 49%, and 8% at 12 months. Child's dietary iron intake did not significantly predict anemia [PR = 1.00 (0.96–1.04)], ID [PR = 0.99 (0.98–1.01)], or IDA [PR = 0.99 (0.95–1.03)] at 12 months. However, this study revealed that the child's hemoglobin concentration at birth was inversely associated with anemia at 12 months [PR = 0.92 (0.86–0.99)], whereas inflammation [PR = 1.23 (1.03–1.46)] and IDA at 4 months [PR = 1.44 (1.04–1.99)] increased the risk of anemia at 12 months. Presence of inflammation additionally predicted risk of IDA at 12 months [PR = 1.27 (1.05–1.54)]. Conclusions While dietary iron intake is not a significant predictor of anemia, 94% of anemia cases coincide with ID at 12 months of age. In addition, inflammation is the most important predictor of anemia and IDA at this age. Therefore, prevention of inflammation is crucial to make dietary measures effective. Funding Sources Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Rwanda; UNICEF Rwanda; Nuffic.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora Silva Cavalcanti ◽  
Priscila Nunes De Vasconcelos ◽  
Vanessa Messias Muniz ◽  
Natália Fernandes Dos Santos ◽  
Mônica Maria Osório

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between dietary iron intake and the occurrence of iron-deficiency anemia in agricultural workers' families from the municipality of Gameleira in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. METHODS: The study population consisted of 46 harvesters' families, consisting of 225 individuals. The food intake of each individual was recorded on three different days by directly weighing the foods consumed. Hemoglobin was determined by fingerstick (HemoCue). This research used the probability of adequacy method to assess iron intake and the paired t test for comparing groups. The Spearman Mann-Whitney test estimated associations between the dietary variables and anemia. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was high in all ages groups and highest (67.6%) in children aged <5 years with a mean hemoglobin of 10.37 g/dL (±1.30 g/dL). Children aged <5 years had low percentage of iron intake adequacy (53.1%). Most of them consumed diets with low iron bioavailability (47.5%). Associations between the occurrence of anemia and dietary variables were significant for total iron (heme and nonheme), its bioavailabilities, and general meat intake. CONCLUSION: Inadequate dietary iron intake and inadequate intake of factors that facilitate iron absorption can be considered decisive for the occurrence of iron-deficiency anemia. Food insecurity occurs between family members, with some members being favored over others with regard to the intake of good dietary iron sources.


2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (11) ◽  
pp. 4322-4334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick M. Lelliott ◽  
Brendan J. McMorran ◽  
Simon J. Foote ◽  
Gaetan Burgio

ABSTRACTThe treatment of iron deficiency in areas of high malaria transmission is complicated by evidence which suggests that iron deficiency anemia protects against malaria, while iron supplementation increases malaria risk. Iron deficiency anemia results in an array of pathologies, including reduced systemic iron bioavailability and abnormal erythrocyte physiology; however, the mechanisms by which these pathologies influence malaria infection are not well defined. In the present study, the response to malaria infection was examined in a mutant mouse line,TfrcMRI24910, identified during anN-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) screen. This line carries a missense mutation in the gene for transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1). Heterozygous mice exhibited reduced erythrocyte volume and density, a phenotype consistent with dietary iron deficiency anemia. However, unlike the case in dietary deficiency, the erythrocyte half-life, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and intraerythrocytic ferritin content were unchanged. Systemic iron bioavailability was also unchanged, indicating that this mutation results in erythrocytic iron deficiency without significantly altering overall iron homeostasis. When infected with the rodent malaria parasitePlasmodium chabaudi adami, mice displayed increased parasitemia and succumbed to infection more quickly than their wild-type littermates. Transfusion of fluorescently labeled erythrocytes into malaria parasite-infected mice demonstrated an erythrocyte-autonomous enhanced survival of parasites within mutant erythrocytes. Together, these results indicate that TFR1 deficiency alters erythrocyte physiology in a way that is similar to dietary iron deficiency anemia, albeit to a lesser degree, and that this promotes intraerythrocytic parasite survival and an increased susceptibility to malaria in mice. These findings may have implications for the management of iron deficiency in the context of malaria.


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