Iron-deficiency anaemia is a condition that affects 40% of all children aged between 6 months and 5 years of age, as well as 37% of pregnant women, and may have serious consequences.
In fact, untreated anaemia can not only lead to tiredness, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath and nerve damage but can also negatively affect cognitive and physical development in children and increase the risk of maternal and child mortality.
Anaemia is a condition in which blood haemoglobin levels are lower than normal. This reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried from the lungs to the rest of the body.
While there are over 400 types of anaemia, each with different causes, iron deficiency – primarily due to inadequate dietary iron intake – is considered the most common nutritional deficiency leading to anaemia. More specifically, iron-deficiency anaemia, which accounts for more than half of cases worldwide, is caused by a lack of essential nutrients that are important for red blood cell production, including iron, vitamin B12 and folate.
Although it affects many people globally, including pregnant women and young children, this type of anaemia is easily treatable with dietary changes and iron supplements.
There is currently a global drive to improve awareness, prevention and treatment of anaemia and iron deficiency, conditions that affect more than two billion people worldwide.
Because anaemia often goes undiagnosed or is misunderstood, it is important to be aware of the symptoms.
Early on, more subtle symptoms of anaemia are often overlooked and can include feeling unusually tired or weak, a loss of appetite, headaches, irritability and difficulty concentrating. Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, caused by nerve damage resulting from a vitamin B12 deficiency, can be another symptom.
As the condition becomes more severe, symptoms can worsen and may include dizziness or light-headedness, brittle nails, blue discolouration in the whites of the eyes, pale or yellowing skin similar to jaundice, and worsening shortness of breath.
In very severe and advanced cases, both adults and children suffering from anaemia may also experience severe fatigue, an inflamed or sore tongue, mouth ulcers or even unusual cravings for non-food items, a condition known as pica. Burning and stabbing pain, especially in the hands and feet at night, is another symptom that can worsen over time due to progressive nerve damage from prolonged vitamin B12 deficiency.
Fortunately, there are readily available oral iron supplements that those suffering from iron deficiency anaemia can, and should, take to restore iron levels.
One such treatment is Autrin, which has been formulated for the treatment and maintenance of common anaemias including iron-deficiency anaemia. Each capsule contains iron in the form of ferrous fumarate, which helps restore iron levels; vitamin C to aid the absorption of iron; folic acid and vitamin B12.
Many clinical trials around the world have shown that oral iron supplements help adults with iron deficiency anaemia improve haemoglobin levels and symptoms, with some studies showing that 73% of adults taking oral iron had a meaningful increase in haemoglobin and an associated increase in energy and reduced anaemia-related symptoms.
An iron supplement that includes vitamin B12 can also support nerve repair and function. This is because, along with being essential for making red blood cells, vitamin B12 is also important for maintaining myelin, the protective covering around nerve fibres.
Similarly, numerous randomised controlled trials in children and adolescents have found that oral iron supplementation significantly increases haemoglobin and ferritin levels, reduces iron deficiency and lowers the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia.
With anaemia affecting millions of children, pregnant women and adults worldwide, awareness, early diagnosis and effective treatment are key. Fortunately, iron-deficiency anaemia is preventable and treatable through proper nutrition and oral iron supplementation.
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist for more information about iron deficiency, anaemia and Autrin.
