The Importance Of Iron

“Our challenge now is to get more countries to tackle the problem of iron deficiency, to work with them on taking actions that can improve the health and quality of life of their populations, and the economic productivity of their countries.”
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy

While anemia affects 50% of the women in the developing world, and 40 to 50% of the children, little to no progress has been made over the last two decades to reduce this problem. Anemia in pregnant women has been linked to one out of every five deaths in pregnancy as it increases the risk of hemorrhage and bacterial infection. It also causes low birth weight and premature babies, which lead to many severe post-delivery complications. Low levels of iron in a nursing mother can lead to anemia in the infant as well.

Anemia also impacts a person's energy level and productivity. It's widely accepted that widespread anemia reduces physical capacity by about 15% which affects the economic structure of the family as well as the country.

Recent evidence by The World Health Organization suggests that improving iron levels can help combat malaria transmission.

Learn more about iron and anemia:

The Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/immpact/micronutrient_facts.htm#Iron

Sustain
http://www.sustaintech.org/

The Micronutrient Initiative
http://www.micronutrient.org/

The Flour Fortification Initiative
http://www.sph.emory.edu/wheatflour/index.php

United Nations – UNICEF
Downloadable pdf “joint statement on anemia”
http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_iodine.html

The Iron Deficiency Project Advisory Service
http://www.idpas.org/

Journal of Nutrition PDF Document
www.projecthealthychildren.org/pdfs/iron-deficiency-anemia.pdf

World Health Organization Document on Improving Iron Levels to Combat Malaria
www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/New_Publications/CHILD_HEALTH/WHO_statement_iron.pdf