Anemia, a blood disorder, is rampant in India, a new study has revealed.

While anemia has long been attributed to iron deficiency, research from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), St. John’s Medical College, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), King Edward Memorial Hospital and Sitaram Bhartia Researchers at the Institute of Science and Research have found that while iron deficiency contributes only marginally to its prevalence, other factors play a much larger role in the widespread occurrence of anemia.

Anemia is a condition in which the body either does not have enough red blood cells (RBCs or hemoglobin) or the RBCs are not functioning properly. The role of RBCs is to help the blood carry oxygen throughout the body.

According to the survey-based study, published in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, blood samples taken from adolescents, adults and the elderly found a higher prevalence of anemia in women than men. Scientists and doctors measured the venous blood hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations of nearly 4,500 people in eight states. Of the participants, 34.9% suffered from anemia.

The prevalence of anemia was 44% in adolescent girls, 41% in adults and 45% in elderly women, while it was 24%, 21% and 37% in adolescent boys, adults and elderly men.

The overall prevalence varied widely, ranging from 12% in Meghalaya to 70% in Assam.

The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was less than one third of the total cases of anemia, and varied between age and gender groups, reaching 45% only in adolescent girls.

In fact, iron deficiency was even less in the mild anemia group.

The study contradicted the common wisdom that anemia is primarily caused by iron deficiency, influencing public policies of bio-fortification (iron supplementation of staple foods). Researchers found that iron deficiency affected a much smaller population than other causes such as vitamin B12 deficiency or air pollution.

“The vast majority of anemia in all groups studied was due to unknown (and unmeasured) causes of anemia. This could be due to deficiencies in other erythropoietic (blood-producing) nutrients such as B12 or folate, or to hemoglobinopathy, Other causes such as unknown blood loss, unhygienic environment or air pollution,” the authors said in their report.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 conducted in 2019-2021, anemia is present in 25% of men (15-49 years) and 57% of women (15-49 years).

The government launched the Anemia Free India (AMB) strategy in 2008 by implementing six interventions: prophylactic iron and folic acid supplementation, intensive year-long behavior change communication (BCC) campaign, testing and treatment of anemia, addressing non-nutritional causes of anemia. To address. , management of severe anemia in pregnant women, and increasing intake of iron-rich foods, among other things.