On malnutrition in childhood in the Philippines: IV. Malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia

ABSTRACT

Sixty-nine cases of malnutrition in 1956, admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of the Philippine General Hospital, have been examined for iron-deficiency anemia. There is, however, no relation between the anemia, malnutrition, impairment of increase in weight and growth, and dysproteinemia in the observed cases. The frequency of iron deficiency anemia is due to the fact that diets poor in protein are, likewise, poor in iron. However, protein deficiency may also play an important role in the development or iron deficiency anemia. Therefore, the newest progress in the knowledge of protein malnutrition, the imbalance of amino acids in certain proteins and the importance of canning of food, especially milk, are discussed as factors contributing to iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency, if present in malnutrition, aggravates the prognosis of malnutrition considerably. (Summary and Conclusion)