Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency and the main cause of anemia worldwide. Apart from anemia effects, other non-hematological manifestations have been described, such as decreased capacity for physical work and spontaneous motor activity, impairment of cell-mediated immunity and bactericidal capacity of neutrophils, decreased thermoregulation, functional and histological abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract, defective mobilization of liver vitamin A, increased risk of premature labor, low birth-weight and perinatal morbidity, reduced iron transfer to the fetus and growth retardation, behavioral disorders and mental and motor development delays, decreased auditory and visual systems nerve conduction velocity, as well as reduction of the vagal tone. The prevention of iron deficiency can be accomplished by changes in dietary patterns, food fortification and iron supplementation.
iron deficiency; anemia; infants; child; pregnancy; mental development
