Anemia Information
Anaemia is defined as Hb less than the lower limit of the reference range for age:
| Age | Hemoglobin | Lower limit of normal range of Hb (g/l) |
| 2 months | 90 | |
| 2 - 6 months | 95 | |
| 6 - 24 months | 105 | |
| 2 - 11 years | 115 | |
| 12 years | boys – 130 girls - 120 |
Anemia is a serious condition that can make a person feel tired and weak and
can lead to serious heart problems and other health complications.
The good news is anemia can be treated and people may regain their independence
and go on to live healthier, more productive lives.
One of the most common disorders caused by nutritional deficiency is anemia
due to an insufficiency of B-12. This nutrient has the largest molecular structure
of any single vitamin and consequently presents a serious absorption problem.
The typical approaches to treating anemia are to administer large dosages of ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate) which may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, or a 1 c.c. (1000 mcg.) intramuscular injection of vitamin B-12, which is difficult to maintain over a long period of time.
Absorption of B-12 in the diet is reduced by an erosion of the mucous lining of the intestines and decreased hydrochloric acid production in the stomach. Stress has also been implicated in reducing the amount of blood flow to the stomach wall (eschemia), and thus inhibiting the absorption of B-12.
Further, many people are lacking a protein called "Intrinsic Factor" that may also be necessary for absorption. Vegetarians are often at risk of deficiency because B-12 is only found in animal products.
In the event that B-12 is absorbed through the digestive tract, it is often not utilized in the formation of red blood cells. With this in mind, researchers experimented with relatively high levels of B-12 both orally and sublingually, (under the tongue), and they found they could overcome both the absorption and utilization problems.
It is known that B-12 may be important for many conditions including
anemia
cardiovascular disease (resulting from a buildup of homocysteine or methylmalonic
acid in the blood)
multiple sclerosis
neural tube defects (a birth defect)
myelin protein deficiency
neuro-psychiatric disorders
depression
mood swings
memory loss
optic & peripheral neuropathy
Boosting the hemoglobin to a range of 14-17, provides a much better basis for improved energy, stamina and mood. (Hemoglobin is the component of blood that transports oxygen to all of your 100 trillion cells, including your brain!)
From clinical experience it has been observed that supplementation with sublingual B-12 (dibencozide) at 10,000 mcg. per day along with 800 mcg. per day of folic acid, stimulates the bone marrow to raise the hemoglobin count by as much as 2-3 points per month, depending on the beginning values and overall nutritional status.
What is it?
When you don't have adequate red blood cells in your blood, you have anemia.
Normally about 1 percent of the red blood cells retire every day, to be replaced by about the same number of fresh, young red blood cells.
Anemia occurs when the production of red blood cells is insufficient, when too many red blood cells are destroyed, or when blood is lost (through bleeding).
Who gets it?What is it?
The most common reason for a child to be anemic is an inadequate supply of
iron. Iron is a mineral that your body needs in order to make red blood cells.
Children who lack enough iron will make small, pale, ineffective red blood
cells.
Who gets it?
Children get iron deficiency anemia if they don't eat enough iron-containing
food, if they lose too much iron (through bleeding), or if their need for
new red blood cells is increased (as in periods of rapid growth). Thus, iron
deficiency anemia is most common in infants and in adolescents (especially
adolescent girls).
Drinking too much milk can lead to iron deficiency. It irritates the intestines, and leads to iron loss. It can also make it more difficult for the body to use iron.
Most cases of severe iron deficiency in young children are in those who drink too much milk.
Food allergies can also lead to iron deficiency through iron loss in the stool.
Children with iron deficiency are more likely to have lead toxicity than their peers.
What are the symptoms?
In most children, the anemia never gets severe enough to cause noticeable
symptoms, but it can still slow cognitive development. Iron deficiency (even
mild enough not to cause anemia) is associated with a decrease in attention
span, alertness, and learning ability. Iron-deficient children are also more
likely to eat dirt, paint chips, ice, and other mineral-containing items.
Irritability and fatigue are common in mild to moderate iron deficiency anemia. The white part of the eyes can take on a bluish tint. The child may appear pale.
Prolonged or severe anemia can cause marked irritability, decreased appetite, slowed growth, a swollen tongue, and flattened, spoon-shaped, or brittle nails. There may be irritated sores at the corners of the mouth. In very severe cases, children can even go into heart failure
How can it be prevented?
Improving your child's diet is the most important way to prevent and to treat
iron deficiency. Many foods are good sources of iron:
Good -- Tuna, oatmeal, apricots, raisins, spinach, kale, greens, prunes
Better -- Eggs, meat, fish, chicken, turkey, soybeans, dried beans, peanut
butter, peas, lentils, molasses
Best -- Breast milk (the iron is very easily used by the child), formula with
iron, infant cereals, other iron-fortified cereals, liver, prune juice
The intestines of children who are being breast-fed are two to three times
more efficient at absorbing iron from every source. Taking vitamin C, or eating
foods high in vitamin C (such as orange juice) at the same time as foods high
in iron, also helps the body absorb and use the iron. The iron in iron-fortified
foods is poorly absorbed, but usually contains enough extra iron to compensate
for this.
Cooking in iron pans can help by adding iron to the food. Taking an over-the-counter
multi-vitamin with iron can help provide a safety net for picky eaters.
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