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Nutritional anemia and its control

  • Symposium on Nutrition-Community Aspect
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Abstract

Available studies on prevalence of nutritional anemia in India show that 65% infant and toddlers, 60% 1–6 years of age, 88% adolescent girls (3.3% had hemoglobin < 7.0 g/dl; severe anemia) and 85% pregnant women (9.9% having severe anemia) were anemic. The prevalence of anemia was marginally higher in lactating women as compared to pregnancy. The commonest is iron deficiency anemia. National programmes to control and prevent anemia have not been successful. Experiences from other countries in controlling moderately-severe anemia guide to adopt long-term measures i.e. fortification of food items like milk, cereal, sugar, salt with iron. Use of iron utensils in boiling milk, cooking vegetables etc may contribute significant amount of dietary iron. Nutrition education to improve dietary intakes in family for receiving needed macro/micro nutrients as protein, iron and vitamins like folic acid, B12, A and C etc. for hemoglobin synthesis is important. As an immediate measure medicinal iron is necessary to control anemia. Addition of folate with iron controls anemia and is neuroprotective. Evidence in early childhood suggests vitamin B12 deficiency anemia; thus it may also be given alongwith iron and folate.

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Author notes

  1. Kailash Nath Agarwal

    Present address: , D-115/Sector 36, Noida, 201301, India

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Continuing Education, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi

    Deeksha Kapur,  Kailash Nath Agarwal & Dev Kumari Agarwal

  2. University College of Medical Sciences & Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi

    Deeksha Kapur,  Kailash Nath Agarwal & Dev Kumari Agarwal

  3. Institute Medical Sciences, Varanasi, India

    Deeksha Kapur,  Kailash Nath Agarwal & Dev Kumari Agarwal

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Kapur, D., Nath Agarwal, K. & Kumari Agarwal, D. Nutritional anemia and its control. Indian J Pediatr 69, 607–616 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02722690

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