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Query: UMLS:C0240066 (iron deficiency)
 7,156 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Hunger and malnutrition in Africa have been on the increase since the 1960s. During the 1970s, it is estimated that 30 million people were directly affected by famine and malnutrition. About 5 million children died in 1984 alone. In Mozambique during the 1983-84 famine, about 100,000 people perished. In Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Liberia, and Angola armed conflicts compound the problem. Ethiopia alone had 9 million famine victims in 1983. The most common form of malnutrition in Africa is protein energy deficiency affecting over 100 million people, especially 30-50 million children under 5 years of age. Almost another 200 million are at risk. Iron deficiency, commonly called anemia, also affects 150 million people, mostly women and children. Iodine deficiency leads to disorders like mental retardation, cretinism, deafness, abortion, low resistance to disease, and goiter and this affects 60 million with about 150 million more at risk. Vitamin A deficiency causes blindness and low resistance to disease and affects about 10 million. Protein energy deficiency is treated by using donated foods in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, day care centers, and feeding centers. There are no community programs for anemia, or vitamin A or iodine deficiencies. Vaccines for preventing and drugs for treating diseases that cause malnutrition are imported. Therefore, African food and nutrition professionals met in 1988 and created the Africa Council for Food and Nutrition Sciences (AFRONUS) to eliminate famine and malnutrition in Africa. Activities have started in: 1) developing contacts between the workers in food and nutrition; 2) assessing the situation of food and nutrition in Africa; 3) developing an action plan; 4) implementing the plan; and 5) monitoring progress. Food and Nutrition Policy Guidelines have also been prepared by AFRONUS for food and nutrition workers. Africa has enough natural resources to solve the problem of hunger and malnutrition, but these resources have to be harnessed.
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PMID:Hunger and malnutrition: the determinant of development: the case for Africa and its food and nutrition workers. 139 7

Iron deficiency as a risk factor in the perinatal period--the review of the literature. The presence of iron is necessary for the metabolic processes, erythropoiesis, oxygen transport and respiration, thermoregulation and humoral and cellular immunity. Iron deficiency decreases the amplitude of adaptation of the pregnant women. It might be responsible for abortion or preterm labour as well as disarrangement of myometrial activity during labour and puerperium. Congenital fetal malformations and intrauterine growth retardation might be also stimulated by iron deficiency.
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PMID:[Iron deficiency as a risk factor during the perinatal period]. 913 85

A 20-year old female seeking legal abortion was pregnant with gestation in the 16th week as confirmed by ultrasound. Low hemoglobin count of 8.7 g/dl showed iron deficiency which was corrected by transfusion of 2 units of packed cells. Extraamniotic termination of pregnancy was commenced, and 5 mg of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in 50 ml of .9% saline was administered. Abortion started 9 hours later; the placenta was removed by curettage, however, severe hemorrhaging and shock ensued. Uterine perforation was ruled out by examination. Hartmann's solution and oxytocin 40 u/l were administered iv. A clotting defect with prolonged prothrombin time, thromboplastin time, and thrombin time was implicated in the excessive bleeding. 3 units of whole blood, 4 units of fresh frozen plasma, and 6 units of platelets were used to treat the coagulopathy. The patient recovered quickly, and clotting tests became normal after 2 days. Follow-up of 1 and 6 weeks showed normal hemoglobin values. PGE2 is routinely used in middle trimester abortions, however, a twentyfold increase in maternal mortality had been reported. Clotting screens are recommended for patients undergoing abortions because of coagulopathy associated with major hemorrhage.
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PMID:Coagulation defect after middle trimester abortion using prostaglandin E2 by the extra-amniotic route. 1234 67

Recent evidence suggests that poor fetal growth is associated with preconception anemia and first trimester iron deficiency. Periconceptional iron and folate supplementation may improve the effectiveness of iron supplementation programs during pregnancy by treating preexisting anemia, building iron stores, and reducing risk of neural tube defects. Our objective in this study was to describe the iron and folate status of married, nulliparous women in rural Bangladesh from March to May 2007. Of 272 women, 37% were anemic (hemoglobin <120 g/L), 13% were folate deficient (plasma folate <or=10 nmol/L), 15% were iron deficient (plasma ferritin <12 microg/L or tranferrin receptor >4.4 mg/L), 11% were iron deficient and anemic, and 81% were estimated to have <500 mg of iron stores. Risk of anemia was 4 times greater among nonstudents than students (95% CI: 1.23, 14.69), twice as likely among women with a previous miscarriage compared with those who had never been pregnant (95% CI: 1.04, 5.47), and 6 times greater among iron-deficient compared to iron-replete women (95% CI: 2.76, 11.81). Adolescents (<or=19 y) had lower mean plasma ferritin concentration (38.3 +/- SD vs. 49.1 +/- SD microg/L; P = 0.004) and body iron stores [3.4 +/- 5.2 mg/kg vs. 4.3 +/- 5.6 mg/kg (0.06 +/- 0.09 mmol/kg vs. 0.08 +/- 0.10 mmol/kg); P = 0.006] compared with adults. An unacceptably high percentage of nulliparous women in rural Bangladesh have inadequate iron and folate status. As they enter pregnancy, more than one-third will be anemic, >80% will have inadequate iron stores, and more than one-tenth will be folate deficient. Further research is needed on risk factors of poor nutritional status before the start of a woman's childbearing years.
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PMID:Periconceptional iron and folate status is inadequate among married, nulliparous women in rural Bangladesh. 1940 10

Pregnancy represents a challenge from a nutritional perspective, because micronutrient intake during the periconceptional period and in pregnancy affects fetal organ development and the mother's health. Inappropriate diet/nutrition in pregnancy can lead to numerous deficiencies including iron deficiency and may impair placental function and play a role in miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, and preeclampsia. This article reviews the risks associated with nutrient deficiencies in pregnant women and presents an overview of recommendations for dietary supplementation in pregnancy, focusing on oral iron supplementation. Risk factor detection, including dietary patterns and comorbidities, is paramount in optimal pregnancy management. Dietary habits, which can lead to deficiencies (e.g., iron, folate, vitamin D, and calcium) and result in negative health consequences for the mother and fetus/newborn, need to be investigated. Prenatal care should be personalized, accounting for ethnicity, culture, education, information level about pregnancy, and dietary and physical habits. Clinicians should make a plan for appropriate supplementation and prophylaxis/treatment of nutritional and other needs, and consider adequate intake of calcium, iodine, vitamin D, folate, and iron. Among the available oral iron supplements, prolonged-released ferrous sulfate (ferrous sulfate-polymeric complex) presents the lowest incidence of overall and gastrointestinal adverse events, with positive implications for compliance.
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PMID:Supplementation during pregnancy: beliefs and science. 2695 54

Women with inherited bleeding disorders (IBDs) experience significant challenges in their health, personal and reproductive lives. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), general bleeding symptoms, iron deficiency and excessive bleeding during miscarriage, pregnancy and delivery are all common complications for women with IBDs. Symptoms may present in childhood or adolescence, often with significant delays to definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment due to lack of recognition of the prevalence and impact of IBDs in women. This can greatly reduce the quality of life of affected girls and women with school and work absence, social embarrassment and self-consciousness being highly prevalent. The impact of being affected by or being a carrier of a genetic disorder can also cause significant psychological distress for women and their partners embarking on a pregnancy. Increased awareness and better understanding of causes and approach for diagnosis of gynaecological bleeding have improved the identification of women who require further haemostatic testing, however many women remain un-diagnosed and un-treated. Education and training of care givers and multi-disciplinary approach are crucial to enable collaborative, patient-centred care including management of bleeding symptoms, haemostatic planning in advance of surgery, pregnancy and delivery and individualised genetics counselling for couples on their reproductive options. This review discusses the current challenges in the care of women with IBDs and strategies to improve their recognition and diagnosis, clinical management and overall quality of life.
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PMID:Women with inherited bleeding disorders - Challenges and strategies for improved care. 3130 33