IRON
DEFICIENCY ANAEMIA: OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS
Wharton BA
MRC Childhood Nutrition Research
Centre, Institute of Child Health, London, UK
This review will include 6 related
topics
1.
Definition and prevalence of
anaemia.
2.
Association of deficiencies of
iron and vitamin D –possible mechanisms including bone marrow and gut
function.
3.
Variable results in studies of
behavioural outcome in iron deficiency anaemia; possible interaction with
other environmental influences.
4.
Mechanisms which relate brain function
to iron: neural lipids and neurotransmitters.
5.
Contribution of other components
in an infant formula, as well as iron, to the prevention of iron deficiency
eg vitamin C, calcium, phosphate, protein.
6.
Greater prevalence in immigrant
toddlers. Is it all explained by dietary differences alone?