Iron deficiency and anaemia affect more than 3.5 billion people around the world (World health Organization) resulting in health problems and cognitive impairment at all stages of life. Anaemic adults and children cost developing countries billions of dollars in lost productivity, according to a recent study. "One in three of the world's population suffers from anaemia so this has tremendous economic consequences," said Sue Horton, a University of Toronto economics professor and lead author of the study, ' The Economics of Iron Deficiency'

1. Iron deficiency is costly

2. 1. Anaemia and iron deficiency
The capacity of the body to transport oxygen is one of the factors which limits physical
performance. Oxygen is transported in the blood by the pigment of the red blood cells
(haemoglobin). If the concentration of haemoglobin is reduced, the oxygen-transporting
capacity of the body is impaired, and therefore the capacity to perform drops.
Anemia is said to occur when the concentration of haemoglobin falls below that specified
as normal for the individual's age and sex.
Iron deficiency and anaemia affect more than 3.5 billion people around the world (World
health Organization) resulting in health problems and cognitive impairment at all stages of
life.

3. 2. Malnutrition jeopardizes Asia’s
tremendous
economic potential – UN
“It is vital for everyone to play their part in making sure women and children, particularly
adolescent girls, get proper nourishment,” says World Food Programme Deputy Executive
Director Sheila Sisulu, noting that Asia’s catastrophic malnutrition levels are the single
greatest barrier to the evolution of a modern, knowledge-based work force that can manag
the economic powerhouse it has the promise to become.

4. 3. Crucial for infants and young
children
A mother weakened by iron and vitamin A deficiency cannot give her children the
upbringing needed to complete their education and achieve their full social and economic
potential. As the primary caregiver of the family, a mother needs essential micronutrients
in order to do her job well.
It is also crucial for infants and young children to get good nutrition at this vital stage of
their development. Malnutrition in early childhood undermines children’s physical stature
and cognitive abilities and impedes their performance in school.
Undernourished adolescent girls bear underweight babies, who then continue the
insidious cycle of malnutrition into the next generation

5. 4. Tremendous economic
consequences
Anaemic adults and children cost developing countries billions of dollars in lost
productivity, according to a recent study.
"One in three of the world's population suffers from anaemia so this has tremendous
economic consequences," said Sue Horton, a University of Toronto economics professor
and lead author of the study, ' The Economics of Iron Deficiency

6. 5. South Asia, Central America, Africa
and the Middle East
Horton and co-author Jay Ross, an epidemiologist from the non-profit organisation Academy
for Educational Development, calculated the economic impact of iron deficiencies in 10
developing countries in South Asia, Central America, Africa and the Middle East.
They found that, on average, a country loses 0.6 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP)
due to physical productivity losses from adults lacking iron. When learning and motor
impairments in anaemic children are added, the figure rises dramatically to 4 per cent of its
GDP.

7. 6. Billions of dollars lost
According to UN statistics, more than 500 million Asians do not get enough food to meet
daily needs for nutritional well-being. Micronutrient deficiencies are especially serious:
babies are born mentally retarded as a result of iodine deficiency, children go blind and die of
vitamin A deficiency, and enormous numbers of women and children are sapped by iron
deficiency anaemia.
At the same time, World Bank studies show that productivity losses due to various types of
malnutrition in low-income Asian countries constitute about two to three percent of the
Gross National Product (and eight per cent in Bangladesh).

8. 7. Supplementation is a good
investment
The OptiFer® series of iron food supplements are safe, efficient and
very well
tolerated, which is crucial for therapy success.
They give an optimal dose and can be used over longer periods with
no change in efficacy or tolerance.
OptiFer® products compete favorably with the regular syntethic
supplements.

9. www.optifer.international www.hemeiron.com www.meditec.se YouTube