What is iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia?
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world, affecting more people than any other nutritional condition. Iron deficiency occurs in all countries and affects all types of people – young and old, male and female, both rich and poor. Most vulnerable are children aged 6 – 24 months, adolescents, and women of child bearing age, especially pregnant women. Depleted iron stores and iron deficiency without anaemia are mild and moderate forms of iron deficiency. In this state the body’s iron stores have been depleted. Iron deficiency anaemia refers to the severe end of the spectrum of iron deficiency. In iron deficiency anaemia, the body iron stores are severely depleted and hemoglobin concentration is low. When the body does not have enough iron it cannot make enough hemoglobin to create healthy red blood cells. In a state of iron deficiency the red blood cells are smaller and a lighter red than normal. These smaller cells cannot carry enough oxygen from the lungs to
