Iron deficiency, especially in adolescent girls, is a widespread problem that can negatively impact growth, school performance, and health. While plant-based iron is poorly absorbed, heme iron from meat is absorbed more efficiently. Regular iron supplements often cause unpleasant side effects leading girls to stop treatment. OptiFer tablets, based on natural heme iron from bovine, are a safe and effective solution that is well-tolerated and can maintain optimal iron levels over long periods without changing efficacy or tolerance.

1. FACTS - PROBLEMS - SOLUTION
Iron deficiency young girls

2. Iron from meat, poultry, and fish is absorbed two to three
times more efficiently than iron from plants. The amount
of iron absorbed from plant foods depends on the other
types of foods eaten at the same meal.
Low iron counts and even anaemia due to iron deficiency
is a widespread problem. Among adolescent girls, it will
bring negative consequences on growth, school
performance, morbidity and reproductive performance. It
also has several negative physical symptoms such as
tiredness, headaches and difficulty to concentrate.
FACTS

3. Adolescents, especially girls, are particularly vulnerable to
iron deficiency. The highest prevalence is between the
ages of 12-15 years when requirements are at a peak.
In all Member States of the South-East Asia Region,
except Thailand, more than 25% of adolescent girls are
reported to be anaemic; in some countries the prevalence
is as high as 50%.
(WHO,
http://www.searo.who.int/entity/child_adolescent/documents/sea_cah_2/en/)
FACTS

4. While approximately 8% of women are estimated to be
iron deficient in the west, Dr Mike Nelson, a nutritionist at
King's College, London University, believes that between
10 - 20 % of younger girls are affected.
Although these girls often appear to be in good health,
low iron levels profoundly affect many aspects of their day
to day lives, including an ability to concentrate, and thus
learn, in school. Nelson tells us, "In tests we have carried
out we think that the IQ in British girls who get enough
iron in their diets and those who are anaemic can mean
the difference of a whole grade in school exams".
FACTS

5. "Girls who are dieting and those switching to a vegetarian
diet are particularly at risk", explains Nelson: "New
vegetarians need to be very careful in the first year of
conversion because they often cut out meat and don't
know how to replace the iron with other foods.
Women and girls who diet and go vegetarian at the same
time should think about eating iron fortified foods or even
taking a modest supplement". (European Food
Information Council,
http://www.eufic.org/article/en/artid/iron-common-
deficiency/)
FACTS

6. Adolescent girls and fertile females in general are at risk for
iron deficiency mainly due to a small constant loss of lood
through menstruation.
Another factor today is a diet with little or no meat, poultry,
and fish since heme iron from meat products is central for a
normal iron balance.
PROBLEM

7. The problem is compounded when an adolescent girl gets
a recommendation for supplement iron and the product
brings side-effects, like the regular non-heme iron
supplements regularly do.
The effect is a termination of the therapy and the situation
for the young female remains the same and slowly gets
worse.
REACTION

8. Foods containing heme iron (meat, poultry, and fish) enhance
iron absorption from foods that contain non-heme iron.
Heme iron therapy has the simplest possible dosage: One or
more tablets once per day, at anytime. No need to consider
other simultaneously ingested foodstuff or drink. Uptake for
heme iron is 15 – 25 %. Heme iron is very well tolerated.
There are no known unpleasant side-effects. Uptake or
tolerance will not change over time.
Heme iron has been used in large scale as an iron
supplement in Scandinavia for over 30 years with no reported
serious side-effects or poisonings.
SOLUTION

9. Swedish company FerroCare/MediTec has a strong
commitment to reach people suffering from iron
deficiency, but have problems with existing supplements.
OptiFer® tablets are based on natural bovine heme iron
and will safely and efficiently keep iron counts at an
optimal level. www.ferrocare.se www.hemeiron.com
SOLUTION

10. 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.
SOLUTION

11. Swedish company FerroCare/MediTec has a
strong commitment to reach people
suffering from iron deficiency, but have
problems with existing supplements.

12. • OptiFer® tablets are based on natural bovine
heme iron and will safely and efficiently keep
iron counts at an optimal level
www.ferrocare.se www.hemeiron.com
www.ferrocare.se www.hemeiron.com