Low iron counts and even anaemia due to iron deficiency is a widespread problem. Among adolescents, it will bring consequences on growth, school performance, morbidity and reproductive performance. Iron deficiency also has several negative physical symptoms such as tiredness, headaches and difficulty to concentrate. Conventional iron deficiency treatment with pharmacological iron doses often causes side effects such as abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhoea. Uptake for heme iron is 20 – 40 %. (Non-heme 2 - 4 %) Heme iron is very well tolerated. There are no known unpleasant side-effects. Uptake or tolerance will not change over time.

1. Why Op'Fer® is good
for the planet
Things you need to know

2. Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet
Low iron counts and even anaemia due to iron
deficiency is a widespread problem. Among
adolescents, it will bring consequences on
growth, school performance, morbidity and
reproduc've performance.
Iron deficiency also has several nega've
physical symptoms such as 'redness,
headaches and difficulty to concentrate.

3. Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet
Adolescents, especially girls, are par'cularly
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, hUp://www.searo.who.int/en'ty/child_adolescent/documents/sea_cah_2/en/)

4. Asia’s catastrophic malnutri'on levels are the single
greatest barrier to the evolu'on of a modern,
knowledge-based work force that can manage the
economic powerhouse it has the promise to become.
Sheila Sisulu, World Food Programme Deputy
Execu've Director,
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

5. Although younger girls o]en 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.
"In tests we have carried out we think that the IQ in
Bri'sh girls who get enough iron in their diets and
those who are anaemic can mean the difference of a
whole grade in school exams".
Dr Mike Nelson, nutri'onist at King's College
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

6. What you cannot learn in school at a
par'cular 'me is very hard or even
impossible to compensate for later in life.
This goes for all sufferers of iron
deficiency worldwide.
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

7. "Iron deficiency and anaemia affect more
than 3.5 billion people around the world
resul'ng in health problems and cogni've
impairment at all stages of life."
(WHO, World Health Organiza'on)
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

8. A mother weakened by iron and vitamin A
deficiency cannot give her children the
upbringing needed to complete their
educa'on and achieve their full social and
economic poten'al.
As the primary caregiver of the family, a
mother needs essen'al micronutrients in
order to do her job well.
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

9. It is also crucial for infants and young children
to get good nutri'on at this vital stage of their
development.
Malnutri'on in early childhood undermines
children’s physical stature and cogni've
abili'es and impedes their performance in
school.
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

10. Undernourished adolescent girls bear
underweight babies, who then con'nue the
insidious cycle of malnutri'on into the next
genera'on
Anaemic adults and children cost developing
countries billions of dollars in lost produc'vity,
according to a recent study.
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

11. "One in three of the world's popula'on 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
Why Op'Fer® is good for the planet

12. All iron comes from the diet
There are only two kinds of iron that we can
use; heme iron from meat, poultry or fish and
non-heme iron from vegetables, dairy
products or chemically bonded iron in the
usual supplements.
The solu'on

13. Heme iron is taken up along the whole
gastro-intes'nal tract (not only the first
part).
Unlike non-heme iron, absorp'on is not
affected by other chela'ng components of
the diet such as phytates, tannates and
phosphate.
The solu'on

14. All regular supplements are syntethic.
They feauture chemically bonded iron
such as Ferrous Sulphate, Ferrous
Fumarate or Ferroglycine Sulphate)..
Heme iron is natural for man
The solu'on

15. ”Conven'onal iron deficiency treatment with
pharmacological iron doses o]en causes side
effects such as abdominal pain, cons'pa'on
and diarrhoea”
(CDC.: Recommenda'ons to prevent and control iron deficiency in the United States. MMWR
Recom Rep. In.
Atlanta, Georgia; 1998: 1-29.)
The solu'on

16. Heme iron supplements are made with natural
bovine hemoglobin. It is a natural (non-
syntethic) form of therapy also containing a
mul'tude of micro-nutrients.
The solu'on

17. 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.
(Frykman E, et al: Side effects of iron supplements in blood donors. J Lab Clin Med. 1994,
123(4):561-564.)
.
The solu'on

18. Heme iron therapy has the simplest possible dosage:
One or more tablets once per day, at any'me. No
need to consider other simultaneously ingested
foodstuff or drink.
Uptake for heme iron is 20 – 40 %. Heme iron is very
well tolerated. There are no known unpleasant side-
effects. Uptake or tolerance will not change over
'me.
(Frykman E, et al: Side effects of iron supplements in blood donors. J Lab Clin Med. 1994,
123(4):561-564.)
.
The solu'on

19. Heme iron produc'on also helps a
serious environmental issue.
Blood from slaughter is very
harmful for the environment in
several ways and is considered
problem waste.
.
The solu'on

20. Swedish company MediTecFerroCare Division
marke'ng the Op'Fer® series of heme iron
supplements has a strong commitment to
reach people suffering from iron deficiency,
but have problems with exis'ng supplements.
FerroCare/MediTec Division has a focus on fair
life regardless of sex, race or creed.
.
The solu'on

21. www.op'fer.interna'onal www.hemeiron.com www.meditec.se YouTube