All that glitters is not iron (deficiency): revisiting the question of why anemic individuals are anemic

Abstract

Three recent surveys from Kenya, the Ivory Coast, and East Java emphasize that anemia is a complex and multifaceted public health problem. A thorough understanding of iron metabolism and its disturbance is central to resolving the problem of anemia but requires intricate analysis. To maximize oxygen-carrying capacity and optimize human function, one must combine issues of sociology, economics, and general health with multiple micronutrient interventions.