Iron deficiency is the most commmon nutritional disorder in the world with
anaemia being the major clinical manifestation. In many countries, 40% or
more of women of reproductive age are anaemic & a similar prevalence is
estimated to occur among preschool-age children. Among pregnant women, 56%
are anaemic in developing countries, compared to 18% in developed
countries. The
prevalence is lower among schoolchildren, non-pregnant
women, adolescents and adult males. However, in the developing world 25%
of men are also deficient in iron.
If uncorrected, iron
deficiency leads to increasingly severe anaemia, reduced work
capacity, diminished learning ability, increased susceptibility to
infection & greater risk of death associated with pregnancy and child
birth.