Improving iron supplements: cooking with GOS

Drakesmith, Hal and Allen, Stephen ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6675-249X (2017) 'Improving iron supplements: cooking with GOS'. Gut.

Text Drakesmith and Allen. Improving iron supplements. 2017 Gut. BMJ Accepted..docx - Accepted Version Download (40kB)

Abstract

Iron is essential for oxygen transport, generation of energy, synthesis of DNA and multiple enzymatic systems. Iron deficiency impairs these functions and a familiar and important manifestation of advanced iron deficiency is anaemia. Around a quarter of a billion children worldwide are anaemic, and at least half of childhood anaemia is caused in part by a lack of iron; a heavy burden of anaemia is especially present in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.1 Iron replenishments, including iron-containing multiple micronutrient powders (MNPs) can be effective treatments to increase haemoglobin. However, despite the use of such agents for many years, the estimated prevalence of anaemia worldwide in preschool children only decreased from 47% to 43% between 1993 and 2011.2 Furthermore, iron replenishments have been associated with adverse events, including infections, intestinal inflammation and diarrhoea in some (but not all) trials. There is a need to make iron treatments both safer and more effective especially in the developing world, and the study in Kenya by Zimmermann and colleagues3 in this issue of Gut addresses these issues.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Commentary
Subjects:	QW Microbiology and Immunology > Fungi. Pathogenic Fungi. > QW 180 Pathogenic Fungi QW Microbiology and Immunology > QW 51 Morphology and variability of microorganisms. Microbial genetics. WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General) WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WH Hemic and Lymphatic Systems > Hematologic Diseases. Immunologic Factors. Blood Banks > WH 160 Hypochromic anemia
Faculty: Department:	Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2017-314593
Depositing User:	Stacy Murtagh
Date Deposited:	05 Sep 2017 09:19
Last Modified:	12 Sep 2019 13:28
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/7553

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