What is the most common nutritional deficiency disease in the world?
A. Iron deficiency anemia is considered the most common nutritional deficiency, affecting roughly 50% of the women of childbearing age and 40% of the children under five years in developing countries. Anemia is an insidious condition that causes fatigue, apathy, lowered resistance to infection, and reduced mental functioning. It is most common where people can’t afford meat, which contains iron in an easily absorbed form. While iron from meat and fish is better utilized, vegetable sources of iron can meet the body’s requirements. Iron from vegetable sources is absorbed up to four times better when it is eaten with a source of vitamin C, such as fruit juice or fresh greens. Dark green leafy vegetables are inexpensive foods that are rich in iron and could greatly reduce anemia throughout the world.
