This thread highlights that nutritional anaemia is a big problem in low-income countries because they lack healthcare infrastructure, medical knowledge, and funds. So, let’s spread the word! Let’s make nutritional anaemia a trending topic for the World Health Organisation!
@gavin-knight.bsky.social

The consumption of foods rich in vitamin C, such as lemons, can be effective in preventing anaemia since they absorb non-heme iron more readily. So, five a day does keep the doctor away. Corny, I know 😭. This could be difficult to implement however, due to people’s lack of access to these foods.

A common clinical sign of anaemia is fatigue and weakness, which can impair cognitive function, due to less oxygen uptake as lesser amounts of haemoglobin are being made. A common physical sign is pallor which leads to paleness of skin. Here, take a look and compare with yours. Quite a difference!

The easiest way to check for anaemia is through routine screening programmes which can include blood tests and childhood check-ups. However, few places in low socioeconomic countries have healthcare infrastructure or even access to hospitals, which can explain why it goes unchecked and is prevalent.

Iron deficiency is the most common type of nutritional anaemia, and this can vary based on age, gender, and socioeconomic status. It can result from low iron intake to blood loss from girls during their period, producing hypochromic blood cells which have significantly less colour than normal. Look!

Iron is a very important nutrient as it makes haemoglobin and transports oxygen to brain cells. This means insufficient amounts can disrupt brain development. Vitamin B12 is required for the function of the central nervous system and DNA synthesis. Folate helps make new healthy cells, DNA and RNA.

Apparently, they're supposed to be eating:
Iron: 10mg - 11mg
Vitamin B12: 0.5mcg - 1.2mcg
Folate: 80mcg - 200mcg
every day but to a non-scientific person what even is that?

For all my non-scientific people out there, it's 850 grams of meat, 1 egg and 12 strawberries. Every. SINGLE. Day.
(🥩🥚🍓)

Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal. This is usually because demands for micronutrients (which is a lottt), like Iron and Folate, exceeds supply and this can cause implications for development, delaying it.

A study about prevalence of anaemia stratified by age and gender in rural India by Alvarez-Uria and Naik (2014), found that anaemia was present in most children <10 years, women after puberty, and older adults. Children <5 years had the highest prevalence, specifically children aged 1-2 years.