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Anaemia
Description
Characterised by low blood levels of haemoglobin, anaemia
can be caused by several factors: a deficient number of
red blood cells, an abnormally low level of haemoglobin
in the individual cells, or both of these conditions simultaneously.
Regardless of the cause,
all types of anaemia cause similar signs and symptoms because
of the blood’s reduced capacity to carry oxygen. These
symptoms include pallor of the Skin, weakness, dizziness,
easy fatigability, and drowsiness.
There are many different
forms of anaemia:
Iron deficiency
anaemia is the most common form of anaemia, most
prevalent in women. Normal body iron> supplies become
low if dietary Iron intake is low, if dietary Iron is not
absorbed, or if Iron is not reabsorbed from existing red
blood cells.
Sickle cell anaemia
is an inherited condition in which red blood cells contain
abnormal haemoglobin, which causes the cells to be deformed
or sickle-shaped. This deformation prevents the smooth flow
of blood through the Circulatory System, causing blood vessels
to clog.
In Folic Acid
anaemia, blood levels of folacin are abnormally
low. As with vitamin B-12, folacin functions at the nuclear
level in the formation of red blood cells within the bone
marrow.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency
anaemia, usually occurring after age forty, results
from a shortage of vitamin B-12 in the blood.
Haemolytic anaemia
occurs when reproduction of new red blood cells is surpassed
by the rate at which red blood cells are destroyed.
Herbs
Alfalfa
Bilberry
Goldenseal
Hawthorn
Nettle
Nutritional Supplements
Folic Acid (5)
Iron (4)
Riboflavin
Thiamin
Vitamin A (1)
Vitamin B6
Vitamin C (2)
Vitamin E (3)
References
1. Mejia LA, Chew F. Haematological effect of supplementing
anaemic children with Vitamin A alone and in combination
with iron. Am J Clin Nutr 1988;48:595-600.
2. Ajayi OA, Nnaji UR. Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation
on haematological response and ascorbic acid status of young
female adults. Ann Nutr Metab 1990;34:32-36.
3. Ono K: Effects of large dose Vitamin E supplementation
on anaemia in hemodialysis patients, Nephron, 40(4), 1985,
p 440-445.
4. Lawless JW, et al: Iron supplementation improves growth
in anaemic Kenyan primary school children, Journal of Nutrition,
May 1994, p 124(5), 645-654.
5. Dickinson CJ: Does Folic Acid harm people with vitamin
B12 deficiency?, QJM: 88:5:357-64 (1995) | 
