Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0162316 (iron deficiency anemia)
 3,806 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Data on 7668 children (0-72 months) and their 4621 mothers and 81 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) collected for the USAID Assisted ICDS Evaluation Surveys were analysed. The results indicated that the major risk factors of nutritional blindness were lack of nutrition and health knowledge among mothers; presence of iron deficiency anemia in the children; and history of the child having had measles in the past one year. Mother's health and nutrition, knowledge and maternal literacy status were the determinants of the success of a vitamin A prophylaxis programme. Factors that determined AWW's performance in vitamin A supplementation were her nutrition and health knowledge, her literacy status and the amount of supervisory assistance she received from Auxillary Nurse Midwife (ANM).
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PMID:Risk factors of nutritional blindness and determinants of a successful vitamin A prophylaxis programme. 863 82

The existence of 'fat-soluble A' has been known for over 80 years. But until recently clinicians were almost wholly absorbed by the ocular changes accompanying deficiency (xerophthalmia), and scientists with the vitamin's metabolic role in the rhodopsin cycle. The past two decades have witnessed a revolution in clinical and scientific concerns. Xerophthalmia is now recognized as a late manifestation of severe deficiency rather than of early, mild deficiency; as the mechanism responsible for half or more of all measles-associated blindness; and as the cause of half a million or more cases of pediatric blindness worldwide. Milder deficiency increases the severity of infectious morbidity, exacerbates iron deficiency anemia, retards growth, and is responsible for one to three million childhood deaths each year. Scientists are now busy unraveling vitamin A-dependent gene regulation to explain the myriad manifestations accompanying deficiency, while clinicians are designing and supervising programs to improve vitamin A status in over 60 countries, up from only three countries two decades ago. Control of vitamin A deficiency is now a major health challenge and goal of both UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). Reaching that goal requires better parameters for assessing vitamin A status, increased understanding of metabolic pathways responsible for corneal dissolution (keratomalacia) and the molecular and cellular basis by which vitamin A status mediates resistance to infection. These issues are detailed elsewhere (Sommer and West, 1996).
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PMID:Xerophthalmia and vitamin A status. 953 97

Micronutrient deficiencies, also known as 'hidden hunger', are determining and aggravating factors for health status and quality of life. Three nutritional problems that have serious consequences are deficiencies of iron, vitamin A and iodine. It is estimated that in today's world, iron deficiency anemia affects two billion people, mostly women and children. Blindness due to vitamin A deficiency affects 2.8 million children under 5 years of age. Iodine deficiency disorders affect 740 million people. Cuba is employing various programs to deal with these micronutrient deficiencies. Dietary diversification, fortification of foods and supplementation with pharmaceutical preparations are included in Cuba's response to these deficiencies. Urban agriculture is one strategy to increase dietary diversity. The aim is to increase both the availability and consumption of vegetables and fruits. Food fortification takes many forms in Cuba today and various supplementation programs are carried out. The most common supplemental program in the country is the prenatal program. This program provides four essential nutrients: iron, ascorbic acid, vitamin A and folic acid. At present, iodination covers more than 90% of the total amount of salt used for human consumption. Results of research carried out in Cuba have shown that vitamin A deficiency is nonexistent in children up to 7 y of age. Foods and preparations for these programs are delivered gratuitously or at very low prices.
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PMID:Micronutrient deficiencies in developing and affluent countries. 1294 58

The importance of micronutrient deficiencies to child survival and to the health and development of nations is universally recognized. Over two billion people, or more than one in three individuals, are at risk of iron, vitamin A and iodine deficiencies. More than 13 million people suffer night blindness or total blindness due to vitamin A deficiency; severe iron deficiency accounts for one in five maternal deaths and one-third of all young children are anaemic; iodine deficiency affects 50 million children and is the greatest single preventable cause of intellectual impairment, as well as a major cause of lost potential and productivity. The World Summit for Children acknowledged that the elimination of the various forms of micronutrient malnutrition would constitute a significant contribution to social, economic and public health development. At the FAO/WHO International Conference on Nutrition held in Rome in 1992, the governments and the non-Governmental Organizations from virtually all nations, together with the international development community, made the elimination of iodine deficiency disorders and vitamin A deficiency important goals to be achieved by the end of the decade, along with a substantial reduction in the levels of iron deficiency anaemia. The United States Agency for International Development established the Opportunities for Micronutrient Interventions in 1993 to help countries achieve these goals by institutionalizing micronutrient activities into other sectoral policies, projects and strategies internationally. An important factor in the recent perceived higher priority for multisectoral micronutrient interventions is the cost-effectiveness of such interventions. The World Bank estimates that a deficiency of vitamin A, iron and iodine could waste up to 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country, while addressing them effectively would cost only 0.3% of GDP. The three main complementary approaches to controlling and preventing micronutrient malnutrition include food-based strategies such as fortification and diet-based approaches including gardening; supplementation; and related public health interventions.
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PMID:Control and prevention of micronutrient malnutrition. 2439 90