The age groups affected are women in of reproductive age, pregnant women and pre-school children especially from low income groups. Its prevalence ranges from 60 to 70% in women and children and 30 to 40% in among adult males and older children in most parts of the country.
Deficiency of iron causes anaemia, a condition in which there is a decrease in the haemoglobin content of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) and there is an alteration in their size and shape.
The major cause of anaemia in our country is iron deficiency due to inadequate intake of dietary iron and/or its poor absorption, from the cereal based diets consumed by people. Iron intake in the diets of low socio-economic groups has been found to be around 20mg per day in adults and 6mg per day for pre-school children. These amounts of iron intake are considered to be marginal due to the high phytate content of the diets, which render part of the iron unavailable to the body.
Deficiency of iron causes anaemia, a condition in which there is a decrease in the haemoglobin content of the red blood cells (erythrocytes) and there is an alteration in their size and shape.
The major cause of anaemia in our country is iron deficiency due to inadequate intake of dietary iron and/or its poor absorption, from the cereal based diets consumed by people. Iron intake in the diets of low socio-economic groups has been found to be around 20mg per day in adults and 6mg per day for pre-school children. These amounts of iron intake are considered to be marginal due to the high phytate content of the diets, which render part of the iron unavailable to the body.
No comments:
Post a Comment