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Anemia in Preg.

Nutritional-deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of important nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and folate. This leads to low red blood cell count or hemoglobin levels. Iron-deficiency anemia is most common, affecting over 30% of the global population. Symptoms include fatigue, pale skin, and shortness of breath. Treatment focuses on dietary changes to consume more iron-rich foods and vitamin supplements.

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25 views

Anemia in Preg.

Nutritional-deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of important nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and folate. This leads to low red blood cell count or hemoglobin levels. Iron-deficiency anemia is most common, affecting over 30% of the global population. Symptoms include fatigue, pale skin, and shortness of breath. Treatment focuses on dietary changes to consume more iron-rich foods and vitamin supplements.

Uploaded by

Priya
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Nutritional-deficiency Anemia is a common issue that can

happen if the body does not absorb enough of certain nutrients.


It can result from an imbalanced diet or certain health
conditions or treatments.

Nutritional deficiencies can lead to a low red blood cell count, low levels
of hemoglobin in these cells, or red blood cells that do not function as they
should.

Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type, but low levels of


folate or vitamin B-12 can also cause the condition, and a low vitamin C
intake can contribute to it.

Anemia affects over 30% of the world’s population, according to the


World Health Organization (WHO). It is often more common in pregnant
women and children. Anemia can cause severe medical issues and affect a
person’s overall health and wellbeing.
Iron-deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia can cause red blood cells to appear small, oval-
shaped, and pale under a microscope. The paleness stems from low
hemoglobin content.

Symptoms
A person with iron-deficiency anemia may have:

 pale skin
 tinnitus
 changes in the sense of taste
 itchiness
 a desire to eat ice
 sores or ulcers at the corners of their mouth
 a sore tongue
 hair loss
 spoon-shaped fingernails and toenails
 difficulty swallowing
 depression
 missed menstruation in females during their reproductive years.

Causes
Nutritional and dietary causes of iron-deficiency anemia include:

 not consuming enough iron


 not consuming enough vitamin C
During pregnancy, the mother and fetus both need iron. If a pregnant
woman does not consume enough of the nutrient, anemia can result.

Heme iron is the easiest form for the body to absorb, and it only occurs in
meat. Plant-based foods contain nonheme iron, which the body does not
absorb as easily. People on plant-based diets may need iron supplements
to meet their needs.

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, and consuming too little vitamin C
may increase the risk of iron-deficiency anemia.

This condition can affect a person’s overall health and ability to function
from day to day. However, taking supplements can usually restore a
person’s iron levels.

Vitamin-deficiency anemia

Vitamin-deficiency anemia can develop when a person’s diet contains too


little vitamin B-12 or folate, which is vitamin B-9. The condition can also
develop if the body is unable to absorb these vitamins effectively. It is
most common in older people.

Another name for vitamin-deficiency anemia is megaloblastic anemia. It


can cause red blood cells to become too large or the body to produce too
few of them.

Symptoms
Symptoms include:

 a feeling of tingling, or pins and needles


 a sore, red tongue
 mouth ulcers
 muscle weakness
 fatigue and a lack of energy
 visual disturbances
 depression
 confusion and other problems with concentration, thinking, and
memory

Long-term complications include:

 infertility, which is usually reversible


 complications during pregnancy
 congenital disorders
 nervous system disorders, which may be permanent
 heart problems, including heart failure

Some types of anemia do not relate to nutrition.

They include:

Aplastic anemia: This occurs when the bone marrow does not produce


enough red blood cells, and treatment may involve transfusions. Certain
medicines, toxins, and infectious diseases can cause aplastic anemia.

Anemia during pregnancy: During the first 6 months of pregnancy, the


amount of plasma — the fluid of the blood — increases faster than the
number of red blood cells. This dilution can lead to anemia.

Sickle-cell anemia: This occurs when a genetic factor causes the body to
produce unusually shaped blood cells that cannot pass easily through the
blood vessels.
Hemolytic anemia: This involves an infection, heart problem, or
autoimmune disease destroying red blood cells.

Other factors that can lead to anemia include kidney disease, cancer,


and chemotherapy.

Diagnosis
Anyone who notices symptoms of anemia should consult a doctor, who
will consider the symptoms and ask about:

 the person’s diet


 existing conditions
 ongoing medications
 personal and family medical histories

A blood test can often identify the cause of the symptoms.

Some underlying health conditions can cause anemia, and the doctor may
order further tests to rule these out or confirm a diagnosis. Treating the
condition may resolve the anemia.

Treatment
To treat nutritional-deficiency anemia, a doctor will recommend having a
varied diet that contains plenty of mineral-rich and fortified foods. They
may also recommend supplements, if appropriate.
Iron is given in milligrams (mg), while the vitamins are in micrograms
(mcg).

Iron (mg) B-12 (mcg) Folate (mcg DFE)


Males 19–50 years 8 2.4 400

Females 19-50
18 2.4 400
years

Food sources of iron, B-12, and Folate

Below are some dietary sources of iron:

Source Amount of iron (mg)


Dark chocolate, 3 ounces 7
Pan-fried beef liver, 3 ounces 5
Braised beef, 3 ounces 2
1 hard-boiled egg 1
Tofu, firm, 1/2 cup 3
White beans, canned, 1 cup 8
Spinach, boiled and drained, 1/2 cup 3
Dietary sources of B-12 include:

Food item Amount of B-12 (mcg)


Beef liver, cooked, 3 ounces 70.7
Salmon, cooked, 3 ounces 4.8
Broiled beef, 3 ounces 1.4
1 hard-boiled egg 0.6
1 hard-boiled egg 0.9
Low-fat milk, 1 cup 1.2

Dietary sources of folate include:

Food item Amount of folate (mcg DFE)


Beef liver, 3 ounces 215
Boiled spinach, ½
131
cup
White rice, ½ cup 54
Avocado, ½ cup 59
1 medium banana 24
Milk, 1% fat, 1 cup 12

Fortified cereals can be good sources of nutrients, though amounts vary by


product.

Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Healthful sources include:

 red peppers
 oranges
 strawberries
 broccoli

In some people, anemia requires medical treatment, such as a blood


transfusion. However, dietary changes and supplementation resolve the
issue in most people.

Medical treatment
If dietary changes do not improve a person’s anemia, the doctor may
recommend supplements.

Most people take these by mouth, but a person with a severe deficiency
may need to receive the nutrients intravenously. In very severe cases, a
blood transfusion is necessary.

Iron: Take these supplements with orange juice, as the vitamin C in the
juice will help the body absorb the mineral. Iron supplements can cause
side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain,
nausea, heartburn, and black feces.

Vitamin B-12: A person with a deficiency may need a monthly


injection, though taking supplements orally may be sufficient.

Folate: A person may need to take folic acid supplements for 4 months,
and they are available in pill form.

Doctors often prescribe iron and folic acid supplements during pregnancy.
A healthcare professional can recommend specific dosages.

When a health issue is preventing the body from absorbing nutrients, a


person may need to take supplements for life.
Anyone considering taking a supplement should speak to a doctor first.
Some supplements can interact with medications or have other adverse
effects.

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