Facts about Iron Deficiency

Facts

Iron is used to produce red blood cells, which help store and carry oxygen in the blood¹.

If you have fewer red blood cells than normal, your organs and tissues will not get as much oxygen as they usually would¹.

• Iron deficiency adversely affects⁴:
  • Cognitive performance, behaviour, and physical growth in children
  • Immune status and morbidity from infections in all age groups
  • Physical capacity and work performance in adolescents and adults
• Untreated iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anaemia
• Anaemia is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world^2,3
• An estimated 2 billion people are anaemic worldwide, of which more than 1 billion live with iron deficiency anaemia^2,3
• Anaemia contributes to 20% of all maternal deaths
• In many developing countries, iron deficiency anaemia is aggravated by worm infections, malaria and other infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis
• In developing countries every second pregnant woman and about 40% of preschool children are estimated to be anaemic

symptoms

SYMPTOMS of Iron Deficiency

causes

CAUSES of Iron Deficiency

Treatment

TREATMENT of Iron Deficiency

References
_{1:http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Anaemia-iron-deficiency-/Pages/Introduction.aspx
2:https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/micronutrients/global_prevalence_anaemia_2011/en/
3:https://www.thelancet.com/clinical/diseases/iron-deficiency-anaemia
4:http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/en/ida_assessment_prevention_control.pdf}