Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is an essential coenzyme for nucleic acid synthesis. Animal protein is the major dietary source of vitamin B12. Deficiency of vitamin B12 leads to megaloblastic anemia, degeneration of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and abnormalities of epithelial tissues. Two factors are necessary for the cure of megaloblastic anemia: one in food (extrinsic factor) and one i...

Iron deficiency is commonly assumed to cause half of all cases of anemias, with hereditary blood disorders and infections such as hookworm and malaria being the other major causes. In countries ranked as low, medium, and high by the Human Development Index, we conducted a systematic review of nationally representative surveys that reported the prevalence of iron deficiency, iron deficiency anem...

BACKGROUND Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy due to a permanent sensitivity to gluten in genetically susceptible people. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most widely experienced anemia in humans. Iron-deficiency anemia additionally is a common extra intestinal manifestation of celiac disease. OBJECTIVE To investigate correlation between tTg levels and histological alterations and ...

BACKGROUND The United States implemented mandatory folic acid fortification of enriched cereal grains in 1998. Although several studies have documented the resulting decrease in anemia and folate deficiency, to our knowledge, no one has determined the prevalence of folate-deficiency anemia after fortification. OBJECTIVE We determined the prevalence of folate deficiency and folate-deficiency a...

BACKGROUND In many elderly patients with anemia, a specific cause cannot be identified. This study investigates whether erythropoietin levels are inappropriately low in these cases of "anemia of unknown etiology" and whether this trend persists after accounting for confounders. METHODS This study includes all anemic patients over 60 years old who had erythropoietin measured between 2005 and 2...

BACKGROUND There is a wide heterogeneity in the reports of celiac disease prevalence in iron-deficiency anemia patients. AIM To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with iron-deficiency anemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult patients with a diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia were enrolled for upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsies. Healthy volunteers that underwent upper end...

Anemia and iron deficiency during pregnancy are prevalent in developing countries, but their causes are not always known. We assessed the prevalence and severity of anemia and iron deficiency and their association with helminths, malaria and vitamin A deficiency in a community-based sample of 336 pregnant women in the plains of Nepal. Hemoglobin, erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) and serum ferrit...

Iron deficiency anemia is extremely common, particularly in the developing world, reaching a state of global epidemic. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is one of the leading causes of anemia in infants and young children. Many women go through the entire pregnancy without attaining the minimum required intake of iron. This review aims to determine the impact of maternal iron deficiency and iron...

DESCRIPTION Update of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) 2006 recommendation on screening for iron deficiency anemia. METHODS The USPSTF reviewed the evidence on the association between change in iron status as a result of intervention and improvement in child health outcomes, as well as screening for and treatment of iron deficiency anemia with oral iron formulations, in children...