Thread by @WHO

NEW: WHO guidelines help health workers to detect #IronDeficiency early and protect brain development in early childhood bit.ly/34PjVsq

#IronDeficiency occurs mainly when the requirements of iron increase during rapid periods of growth and development such as in early childhood, adolescence and pregnancy, but it can occur at other stages in life bit.ly/34PjVsq

Detecting #IronDeficiency early during pregnancy and in young children is crucial bit.ly/34PjVsq

#IronDeficiency in children under two years of age can have significant and irreversible effects on brain development.
This can lead to negative consequences on learning and school performance later in life bit.ly/34PjVsq

The cognitive development of a child can also be affected if a mother is iron deficient during her third trimester of pregnancy bit.ly/34PjVsq

In adults, #IronDeficiency can have negative effects including fatigue, impaired physical performance and decreased work productivity, as well as impacting social activities bit.ly/34PjVsq

In pregnant women, #IronDeficiency can cause anaemia, reduced birth weight and reduced gestation periods bit.ly/34PjVsq

If you feel tired, lack energy and are pale without any apparent reason, you may have anaemia and specifically iron-deficiency anaemia. Go see your doctor for advice bit.ly/34PjVsq

To help you prevent iron deficiency, eat iron-rich foods like:
🥩meat
🥚eggs
🟢 legumes (like beans, lentils and chickpeas)
🥬 dark leafy greens
🥜nuts and seeds
bit.ly/34PjVsq

Include citrus fruits with your meals.
They contain vitamin C which helps you absorb the iron in these foods bit.ly/34PjVsq

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1252621251568455681?s=20

Avoid having coffee and tea with your meals since they contain some elements that can inhibit the absorption of iron in foods.
Wait 2 hours after your main meals to have your coffee or tea bit.ly/34PjVsq

https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1252621251568455681?s=20

WHO shows how to best measure ferritin, an indicator of iron stores, to help determine iron deficiency or overload.

Ferritin levels are low in iron-deficient individuals and high in iron-loaded individuals bit.ly/34PjVsq

Reducing anaemia is one of the components of our efforts to eradicate all forms of malnutrition.
However, progress has been limited - there are still 614 million women and 280 million children globally who suffer from it bit.ly/34PjVsq

Iron is an essential element with important functions such as oxygen transport, DNA synthesis and muscle metabolism bit.ly/34PjVsq

#IronDeficiency is the main cause of anaemia, which is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency, affecting 33% of non-pregnant women, 40% of pregnant women, and 42% of children worldwide bit.ly/34PjVsq