Iron

Physiological Role(DRI Nutrient Report, 2001)

-essential component of red blood cell(hemoglobin) and muscle
protein(myoglobin) to facilitate oxygen transport, component of oxidative
enzyme (cytochrome)

Consequences of Deficiency(DRI Nutrient Report, 2001)

-anemia: severe iron deficiency can lead to anemia, a condition with significant
decrease in number of oxygen-binding protein(hemoglobin) in blood, which
decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood

-impaired physical performance: cellular iron deficiency can lead to reduced

performance in endurance exercise; anemia caused by iron deficiency can lead to
reduced performance in brief but intense exercise

-developmental delay: infants with iron deficiency anemia may suffer from
impaired motor functioning and cognitive development during childhood

-increased maternal death rate before and after labor(prenatal): women with
severe iron deficiency anemia may have high death rate before or after labor
associated with heart failure, hemorrhage and infection; maternal anemia is also
a possible cause of some adverse effects including premature delivery, low birth
weight and increased infant death rate before or after birth

-other consequences: iron deficiency is associated with impaired immunity

against infection, abnormalities of mucous membrane in mouth and digestive
tract, abnormal appetite and temperature regulation

Population at risk of deficiency(DRI Nutrient Report, 2001; Nutrition and

Health Info-sheet, 2008)
Young children, pregnant women, and women of childbearing age are at risk due
to high requirements for growth and to replace losses., women with high
menstrual losses,
Vvegetarians or individuals with low animal source food intake may be at risk of
deficiency because absorption of iron from plant foods is very low compared to
that from animal foods.and
Ppatients suffering from intestinal parasitic infection are at risk of iron
deficiency.

In Cameroon specifically, young children, pregnant women, children and women

in the north, rural areas and the poorest socio-economic status group are at
higher risk of iron deficiency. (Engle-Stone, 2013)

Prevalence of deficiency in Cameroon(Engle-Stone, 2013)

Iron deficiency defined as sTfR > 8.3mg/L:

Children with age averaged 30 months:
-68% nationally
-anemia associated with iron deficiency: 82% nationally
-North region shows the most severe deficiency condition (highest plasma sTfR)

Women with age averaged 27 years:

-32% nationally
- anemia associated with iron deficiency: around half of the population nationally
(50%)
--North region shows the most severe deficiency condition (highest plasma sTfR)

Iron Rich Foods(West African Food Composition Table)

Food Description Iron content (mg) Amount of food Amount of food

per 100g edible needed to meet the needed to meet the
portion EAR for a child 1-3 EAR for a woman
y(7mg/day) 18-49 y(18mg/day)
Liver (cooked) Beef(boiled):12.6
Chicken(braised):12
Lamb(boiled):13.2

Chicken 8.6
giblets(braised)

Anchovy, canned in 4.6

oil

Game meat(dried) 9.9

Seasame seeds, 11.8

dried, raw

Cashew nut, dried, 6.4

raw

As for vitamin A,
let’s use a single line
for “dark green leafy
vegetables” and
include an average
values for cooked
leaves (pumpkin,
cassava, etc.)
Pumpkin leaves, 18.8
dried

Tamarind leaves, 19.4

dried

Parsley, fresh 4.9

Cassava leaves Raw:5.5

Boiled: 4.4

Intervention Description Practice of Comments

intervention in
Cameroon

Fortification Addition of iron to Wheat flour is The type of iron

processed foods fortified with iron added must be well
absorbed
Supplementation Tablets with iron to Pregnant women
be taken daily are recommended
to take iron tablets
daily during
pregnancy
Micronutrient Sachets with Pilot programs in
powders vitamins and some areas
minerals that are
 added to foods at
the time of eating
Dietary Promotion of Cooking practices
diversification production and such as
consumption of fermentation can
foods that are also increase the
naturally rich in amount of iron
iron absorbed from a
meal.