Contents

### **Preface XI**


Preface

It is estimated that one-third of the world's population is anemic, the majority being due to iron deficiency (ID). This great health problem affects approximately to more than 2 billion people worldwide, and IDA remains the main cause of anemia, as confirmed by the analy‐ sis of a large number of reports on the burden of disease in near two hundred countries, performed in the last twenty years and by a survey on the burden of anemia in persons at

This situation is applied to the reduction of iron stores that precedes to overt iron deficiency anemia (IDA) or persists without progression. This is a more severe condition, in which low levels of iron are associated with anemia and the presence of microcytic hypochromic red cells. The estimated prevalence of ID worldwide, is twice as high the IDA. The diagnosis

Iron is a metal compound crucial to biologic functions, including respiration, energy produc‐ tion, DNA synthesis, and cell proliferation. The human body has evolved to conserve iron in several ways, including the recycling of iron after the breakdown of red cells and the retention of iron in the absence of an excretion mechanism. However, since excess levels of iron can be toxic, its absorption is limited to 1 to 2 mg daily, and most of the iron needed daily (about 25 mg per day) is provided through recycling by macrophages that phagocytate senescent eryth‐ rocytes. The latter two mechanisms are controlled by the hormone hepcidin, which maintains

Prevention programs have decreased rates of IDA globally. The prevalence is now highest in Central and West Africa and South Asia. The reported prevalence of ID in the absence of dietary fortification is approximately 40% in preschool children, 30% in menstruating girls and women, and 38% in pregnant women. These rates reflect the increased physiological

While anemia is clearly defined according to the World Health Organization as a hemoglo‐ bin (Hb) level less than 12 g/dL in women (< 11 g/dL in pregnant women) and lower than 13 g/dL in men, the situation is ambiguous for for iron deficiency. No single test is diagnostic of ID, unless the serum ferritin is low or the percent transferrin saturation is low with an

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common complication in routine clinical practice that fre‐ quently originates in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Patients with IDA are therefore often re‐ ferred to gastroenterologists for further examination and/or treatment. This finding associated with GI disorders can substantially reduces quality of life, contribute to fatigue,

In contrast to the well-documented inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated IDA prev‐ alence data for associated with other pathological conditions of the GI tract, are sparse.

total-body iron within normal ranges, avoiding both iron deficiency and excess.

risk, such as preschool children and young women.

and treatment of this condition needs clearly to be improved.

need for dietary iron during specific life stages according to sex.

elevated total iron binding capacity

and may even lead to hospitalization.
