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Dr. Aflatun Akhtar Jahan //

30% of people in the world suffer from anemia. Most of them suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. Apart from this, vitamin deficiency also causes anemia, such as B12 and folic acid deficiency. Today we will learn about iron, B12 and folic acid-deficiency anemia.
Iron-deficiency anemia

The main cause of iron deficiency is anemia or blood loss. In women, excessive bleeding during menstruation, bleeding from stomach ulcers due to pain medication or helminth infection, pregnancy, breastfeeding are major causes of iron depletion. Another major reason is not eating iron-rich foods and not absorbing iron from food. During pregnancy, iron is transferred from the mother’s body to the body of the unborn child and to the placenta, resulting in iron deficiency in the mother’s body. The demand for iron is also high in the growing age.

Iron must be obtained from both animal and plant sources. Iron is found in meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, fruits and nuts. Animal sources increase iron levels in the body more than plant sources. So if one eats spinach and meat together, the absorption of iron will be higher. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron. So we can have some lemon with food.
Tea and coffee contain a substance called tannin. Tannins greatly reduce iron absorption. Many of us drink tea or coffee after meals, this habit should be avoided.

Stomach acid helps absorb iron. Anti-ulcer or gas medications reduce iron absorption. Iron-deficiency anemia is common in people taking long-term gas medications. Therefore, the intake of gas medicine should be reduced for no reason.

At the same time taking iron and calcium medicines reduces iron absorption. So two medicines should be taken at two times.
Vitamin B12 – deficiency anemia

Many are vegetarians. Do not eat any animal meat. B12 is reduced in these patients. Stomach acid is also needed for B12 absorption. B12 is not absorbed if gastric acid is reduced for some reason, such as by taking omeprazole, ismiprazole-like drugs, or stomach surgery. There is an autoimmune disease called pernicious anemia, where B12 is low. Deficiency of B12 can lead to anemia as well as neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, loss of touch in hands and feet, vision problems and forgetfulness. B12 – Deficiency is treated by injecting B12 into the body.
Folic Acid – Deficiency

Vegetables are the main source of folic acid; Like spinach, broccoli, lettuce. fruit; Such as bananas, watermelons and animal meats. But if you cook at high heat or for a long time, folic acid is destroyed. Again some medicine; Medicines such as methotrexate reduce the absorption of folic acid. Just as anemia occurs due to a decrease in folic acid, folic acid deficiency in pregnant mothers causes neurological problems in the fetus called neural tube defects. So you should take folic acid only if you are planning to have a child.

Dr. Aflatun Akhtar Jahan, Medicine Specialist, Square Hospital Limited, Dhaka