1. What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?

a) Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin
concentration in the cells is lower than normal.
b) The most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency. Other nutritional
deficiencies, like folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A, can also cause anemia.
Anemia can also be caused by infectious diseases such as parasitic infections,
malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV.
c) Iron helps in the formation of hemoglobin in the cells that help carry oxygen to
the lungs to the body tissues.
d) Iron deficiency occurs when the amount of iron absorbed by the body doesn’t
meet the requirements for iron. This may be caused by (1) Inadequate iron intake,
(2) Reduced bioavailability of dietary iron, (3) Increased needs for iron, or (4)
chronic blood loss. Prolonged iron deficiency may lead to iron deficiency anemia
(IDA).
2. What are the symptoms of IDA?
a) People may have IDA without symptoms. Usual symptoms like fatigue,
weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath are related to the decreased capacity
of red blood cells to carry oxygen to the different body tissues. The most
predictive clinical symptom of IDA is paleness of mucus membranes
(conjunctiva).
3. Who are usually affected by IDA?
a) Children and pregnant women
4. What are the consequences of IDA?
a) Among infants and children
1. Impaired motor development and coordination
2. Impaired language and cognitive development
3. Psychological and Behavioral Effects (inattention, fatigue, etc.)
b) In adults of both sexes
1. Decreased productivity and earning capacity
2. Decreased physical work and resistance to fatigue
c) Among pregnant women
1. Inc. maternal morbidity and mortality
2. Inc. fetal morbidity and mortality
3. Inc. risk of low birth weight
5. How much iron do we need to consume daily?
a) Iron requirements vary by age, sex, smoking habits, and pregnancy status.
b) Iron requirements of infants 0-5 months can be easily met by breastmilk.
c) Children 6 months to 9 years need to get approximately 8-10mg or iron daily,
which can be met by eating a variety of iron-rich food.
d) Starting 10-12, females would have a higher daily iron requirement since they
have increased iron loss due to menstruation. (F: 20mg, M: 12mg)
e) For females 13 to 49 yo, their iron requirements are more than double of the male
requirements. (F: 28mg, M: 12mg)
f) Diet alone cannot meet the iron requirements for females 13-49yo. Intake of iron-
rich and iron-fortified food and the use of iron supplements are recommended.
 g) Pregnant women and lactating women have higher iron requirements (38mg and
30mg, respectively).
6. What food are rich in iron?
a) Legumes (mung beans, green peas)
b) Dark green leafy vegetables (malunggay, pechay, kamote tops, kulitis)
c) Liver, blood, and other organ meat
d) Red meat
e) Eggs
f) Iron from animal food can be easily used by the body. Iron rich plant food are
best eaten with vitamin C for increased iron absorption. Fruits rich in vitamin C
include calamansi, mangos, oranges, and pineapple.
g) 1 cup of boiled kulitis leaves contains 25% or recommended daily iron intake for
females 13 to 49 years old.
7. Why take iron supplements?
a) For special populations, like female adolescents, pregnant and lactating women,
iron from diet alone cannot meet the daily iron requirements. Thus iron
supplements are needed.
8. What are the benefits of taking iron supplements?
a) For pregnant mothers:
1. Reduces risk of deaths during childbearing by preventing severe anemia
which is highly associated with severe bleeding
2. Prevents neural tube defects (birth defects)
b) For female adolescents and other adults:
1. Increases productivity
2. Prevents IDA
c) For anemic school children
1. Improves cognitive and motor development
d) For low birth weight babies and pre-term babies
1. Prevents IDA as they are born with a lower iron supply and are at a higher
risk for developing IDA
9. Precautions in taking iron supplements
a) Side effects of taking iron with folic acid tablets include
1. Nausea
2. Constipation
3. Stomach discomfort
4. Black stool
b) How to prevent side effects:
1. Nausea: take tablets with meals or at night
2. Consitpation: take plenty of fiber rich fresh fruit, green vegetables and
drink more than 8 glasses of water daily
3. Stomach discomfort: take ½ dose daily for 1 week then resume full
dosage. Take tablets during or after meals
4. Black stools: do not be alarmed. The black color is due to the iron (ferrous
sulfate).
c) Pregnant women taking RUSF should not take iron with folate tablets.
Sources:
DOH Center for Health Development CARAGA.
WHO website. Iron Deficiency Anemia.
DOST-FNRI. Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes.