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Nutritional anaemia--a major controllable public health problem.

Nutritional anaemia, due chiefly to iron deficiency, is widely prevalent in many parts of the world. There is increasing evidence that even mild anaemia affects health and reduces productivity and that a high prevalence of anaemia has profound socioeconomic consequences. The pathogenesis of nutritional anaemia is now reasonably well understood. Measures avilable for combating it include: therapeutic supplementation for accessible population groups with a high prevalence of anaemia, such as pregnant women and schoolchildren; iron fortification of one or more widely consumed foodstuffs; management of those conditions, such as hookworm infestation, that increase requirements for haemopoietic nutrients; and education of the public, and of all categories of health personnel, regarding the importance of anaemia and the ways of controlling it. Experience has shown that there is no simple solution to the problem and in each area where iron deficiency anaemia is prevalent it will probably be necessary to develop and combine many or all of these measures. In each community it will be necessary to introduce these measures so that their effectiveness can first be studied in a pilot trial. When this has been successfully completed it should be followed by a field trial under realistic conditions, and only when this has proved successful should a regional or national programme be introduced. However, the problem is complex and it is only by sustained effort of all concerned that it will prove possible to develop adequate public health control of nutritional anaemia.

Allied Health Personnel

Prevalence and risk factors of nutritional anaemia among adolescents in India: a systematic review with meta-analysis of prevalence.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional anaemia is a major public health concern among adolescents in India, threatening physical growth, cognitive development, and future maternal health. This systematic review with meta-analysis of prevalence aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of nutritional anaemia among Indian adolescents aged 10-19 years and identify key associated risk factors. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus up to February 2025. Data were extracted on study design, setting, diagnostic methods, prevalence, and risk factors. Quality was assessed with a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A random-effects meta-analysis estimated pooled prevalence, with subgroup analyses by state and gender, and pooled odds ratios for risk factors. RESULTS: Forty-five studies encompassing diverse Indian regions and 159,979 adolescents were included. The pooled prevalence of nutritional anaemia was 56% (95% CI: 49%-63%), with higher rates among girls (62%) than boys (39%). Iron deficiency (OR 2.38-4.68), other micronutrient deficiencies, low socioeconomic status, poor dietary diversity, female gender, and inadequate supplementation were consistently associated with higher anaemia risk. CONCLUSION: Nutritional anaemia impacts more than half of Indian adolescents, with notable regional and gender differences. Its complex nutritional, socioeconomic, and behavioural causes demand targeted, context-specific interventions to enhance adolescent health nationwide.

Humans

Protein calorie malnutrition and nutritional anaemia in Black pre-school children in a South African semirural community.

The incidence of nutritional anaemia and of protein calorie malnutrition in 119 randomly selected Black children living in the Muldersdrift area was studied. The ecology of nutritional problems in the community was also investigated. Major problems in the area were poor educational and medical facilities, a high childhood mortality rate and poor cash incomes. An important factor which influenced nutrition was large family size. The incidence of protein calorie malnutrition was 27,6% and of nutritional anaemia 13,3%. In the second year of life the incidence of anaemia was 27,3%. The main cause of anaemia was iron deficiency.

Black or African American

Protein energy malnutrition and nutritional anaemia in preschool children in rural KwaZulu.

The prevalence of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and nutritional anaemia was investigated in 392 black children, aged 13--60 months, living in a poor rural area. Breast feeding was practised extensively in the population (median duration 14 months). The overall prevalence of PEM was 16,4%, but severe PEM occurred in only 2,7% of the children. Anaemia was present in 6,7% of children, and was almost invariably associated with iron deficiency. Biochemical evidence of iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency was detected in 36%, 14,8%, and 0,3% of children respectively. Anaemia was almost confined to the 1-year-old group, but biochemical evidence of iron deficiency, while highest in this age group, continued into the 2-4-year age group. No relationship was found between ecological factors such as income, educational status, etc. and any of the anthropometric, biochemical or haematological variables. The prevalence of PEM and anaemia in these poor rural children is lower than that of a comparable group of underprivileged urban children, thus emphasizing that city slum conditions are producing considerable nutritional problems in their wake. It is of importance to investigate further why some children who are severely deprived in many ways do not necessarily manifest a proportional degree of nutritional deprivation.

Black or African American

WHO sponsored collaborative studies on nutritional anaemia in India. The effects of ascorbic acid and protein supplementation on the response of pregnant women to iron, pteroylglutamic acid and cyanocobalamin therapy.

1. A study was conducted in two centres in southern and northern India of the effects of the addition of ascorbic acid and protein supplements to iron, pteroyglutamic acid and cyanocobalamin, in the prophylaxis and treatment of anaemia of pregnancy. 2. A dose of 500 mg ascorbic acid/d had no beneficial effect. Women who received 15 g calcium caseinate/d showed a superior haematological response. The reasons for this are unknown, but are more likely attributable to an increased absorption of the supplemental iron than to the correction of a protein deficiency.

Anemia, Hypochromic

WHO sponsored collaborative studies on nutritional anaemia in India. The effect of parenteral iron administration in the control of anaemia of pregnancy.

1. The relative efficacy of oral and parenteral iron administration in the prophylaxis and treatment of Fe-deficiency anaemia of pregnancy has been studied. 2. Intravenous administration of Fe by total dose infusion of Fe dextran was not superior to oral Fe 120 mg/d, 6 d/week for 10-12 weeks. 3. Intramuscular Fe dextran, 100 mg twice per week for 10-12 weeks, produced a significantly greater rise in mean haemoglobin concentration than oral Fe therapy. 4. The superiority of intramuscular Fe as compared with intravenous Fe is probably related to the different handling of the Fe dextran by the reticulo-endothelial system. 5. In spite of the better response to intramuscular Fe dextran, it is not recommended for public health practice because of the risks associated with its use and the much higher cost of the preparation and its delivery.

Administration, Oral

Anaemia and immune response.

Nutritional anaemia is a major public-health problem in many parts of the world, and iron deficiency appears to be the most important cause. The immune response is believed to be impaired in anaemia. The results of the present study, carried out in young children, indicate that both the cell-mediated immune response and the bactericidal activity of leucocytes are impaired when levels of haemoglobin fall to 10 g/dl or less.

Adolescent

Multifactorial megaloblastic anaemia.

Ninety-five patients who had megaloblastic anaemia, and who lived in a subtropical climate, were studied to elucidate the importance of puerperium, malabsorption, gastric dystrophy, diet and infection in the aetiology of the disease. All 5 factors were found to be common, and to occur in a variety of combinations, producing a wide spectrum of illness variously resembling nutritional megaloblastic anaemia, sprue, pernicious anaemia and many stages in between. It is concluded that megaloblastic anaemia in this population is a multifactorial disease, and a tentative scheme, relating the aetiological factors, is drawn up. Neither serum vitamin B(12) levels, nor folate estimation in serum or red cells emerged as very reliable guides to the underlying biochemical deficiency.

Adolescent

Iron-deficiency in the tropics.

Different populations in the tropics show wide variation in their iron status, even when living in the same area. These differences range from the most profound iron-deficiency anaemia to nutritional haemosiderosis. The extremes of dietary iron content so far reported are 5 mg per day in Mauritius to 180 mg per day in Ethiopia. Contamination with inorganic iron is an important source in some communities. Generally, the iron in food is in excess of requirement, but lumenal factors are all important in deciding how much is available for absorption. The iron of some diets is readily absorbed, but in other only a small percentage is utilizable. Hookworm infection is the commonest cause of severe iron-deficiency in many parts of the world. Its prevalence and its density depends on social habits, and may vary considerably even within tribes. The development of iron-deficiency anaemia depends on the hookworm load being sufficient to cause iron loss in excess of available intake. Anaemia impairs work capacity, reproductive ability of women and the development of children, and has wide social and economic repercussions. An intramuscular preparation by which 500 mg of iron may be administered in one injection has most useful application in areas where medical care is minimal.

Anemia, Hypochromic

The prevalence and nature of anemia among apparently normal subjects in Fiji.

A total of 4939 apparently healthy Fijian and Indian subjects living in Fiji were tested for anaemia by determination of the microhaematocrit of a sample of capillary blood. The prevalence of anaemia during childhood varied with age but was similar for Fijians and Indians of either sex. The overall prevalences were: 0-4 years, 20.3%; 5-9 years, 3.7%; 10-14 years, 23.5%. The prevalence of anaemia among Indian women (33.3%) was substantially higher than that for Indian men (6.9%), Fijian women (8.1%) or Fijian men (6.8%). Iron deficiency was the most common cause of anaemia and was established by laboratory studies in 203 (68%) of 298 anaemic subjects who were followed up. Iron deficiency was an important aetiological factor in 91 (93%) of 98 subjects with moderate or severe anaemia. Folate deficiency was found, usually in combination with iron deficiency, in 44 or 141 anaemic indian adults were followed up. Folate deficiency was uncommon in Fijian adults and among children of either race. Two cases of nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency, one case of pernicious anaemia, 6 cases of heterozygous thalassaemia and one case of heterozygous haemoglobin E were found among the anaemic Indian subjects. No cases of vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, thalassaemia or haemoglobinopathy were detected among the Fijians. In 5 Indians and 7 Fijians the anaemia was associated with an underlying chronic disorder. This study emphasizes that in Fiji, as in other developing countries, nutritional anaemia is prevalent among asymptomatic subjects. Iron deficiency is by far the most common cause.

Adolescent