CLINICAL
IRON DEFICIENCY
EXPLORING ANAEMIA
Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anaemia.
Anaemia is defined as a
haemoglobin concentration lower
than normal for the age and sex of
the person involved. Anaemia is not
a diagnosis, and an underlying cause
should always be sought.
CAUSES
Stage 1: Iron loss exceeds intake. As a
result, there is a negative iron balance
and the iron stored in the bone marrow
is progressively depleted. As stored
iron decreases, there is a compensatory
increase in the absorption of iron in the
diet and an increase in the iron binding
capacity of the cells.
Iron deficiency occurs when the rate
of loss or use of iron exceeds its
rate of uptake and assimilation. The
reasons for this are: Chronic blood loss
is most commonly due to excessive
menstruation or due to bleeding into
or from the gut as a result of a peptic
ulcer, gastritis, haemorrhoids, or worm
infestation in children.
An increased need for iron occurs
in pregnancy, due to the growth of
the foetus, or in children undergoing
rapid growth spurts in infancy and
adolescence. Inadequate intake of iron
to meet the body’s requirements is
often because of diets with insufficient
iron. It also occurs during the weaning
period when babies are switched from
breast milk to solids. Breast milk
contains lactoferrin, a type of iron which
is very easily absorbed.
Decreased absorption of iron is
common after a partial or total removal
of the stomach, lack of stomach acid,
chronic diarrhoea or malabsorption.
Stage 2: The exhausted iron stores
cannot meet the needs of the bone
marrow. This means that there is
progressively less iron available for the
formation of red blood cells.
Stage 3: By now anaemia has
developed, but the red blood cells still
look normal.
Stage 4: The red blood cells become
smaller (microcytic) and pale
(hypochromic).
Stage 5: Iron deficiency affects the
tissues, resulting in the symptoms and
signs of iron deficiency anaemia.
Source: Mediclinic Infohub
ASTYFER offers patients with
iron deficiency various benefits
SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
Symptoms such as tiredness,
weakness, shortness of breath
are commonly seen, sometimes
accompanied by tachycardia. There
may also be difficulty concentrating,
and some neurocognitive deficits.
The tongue may be smooth, shiny
and inflamed (glossitis). Angular
stomatitis may also occur. In some
children, there may be poor growth
overall, and growth faltering. Pica - a
craving for strange foods such as
starch, ice, and sand - may develop. The
symptoms of the underlying cause of
the iron deficiency may be present, such
as menorrhagia or abdominal pain due
to peptic ulceration.
ASTYFER contains:
The best-absorbed form of iron 1
Folic acid - that promotes the synthesis of haem 2
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) - improves absorption 3
B-Vitamins - fights fatigue
Amino acids (glycine, histidine and lysine) - encourages absorption 4
Each capsule contains 150 mg of iron fumarate, equal to 49,5 mg of elemental iron
Iron deficiency
can leave patients
feeling off-colour
Oesophageal
sphincter
Oesophagus
ASTYFER capsules
dissolve and release
stomach acidity-resistant,
film-covered granules
that spread through the
stomach.
Pyloric sphincter
Let ASTYFER put your
patients in the PINK!
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT
Granules easily move through the
Pylorus sphincter due to their size.
The filmy cover dissolves in the small
intestines and the contents are
released for absorption.
The body keeps the amount of iron in
balance by regulating iron absorption
in the gastro-intestinal tract. Red
blood cells account for 90% of the
body’s iron. When these cells die,
the iron is carefully recycled by the
body. There is a balance that the body
needs to maintain, and this is carefully
regulated. However, the demands at
some periods, e.g. growth, or when
there is excess blood loss, may be far
greater than the diet can provide. If this
occurs, iron deficiency will develop. Iron
deficiency develops slowly in stages.
DE EFFECTS DUE TO
DECREASED GASTRIC SI ION TECHNIQUE 5
ADVANCED PELLETISAT
References: 1. TREVOR, A.J., KATZUNG, B.G., & MASTERS, S.B. 2002. Katzung & Trevor’s Pharmacology, USA: McGraw-Hill Companies. 662p 2. JOHNSON. L.E. 2007.
Folate (Folic Acid). http://www.merckmanuals.com/home/disorders_of_nutrition/vitamins/folate.html 3. TEUCHER, B., OLIVARIS, M. & CORI, H. 2004. Enhancers of iron
absorption: ascorbic acid and other organic acids. http://ukpmc.ac.uk/abstract/MED/1574 4. DAVIDSON, S., PASSMORE, R & EASTWOOD, M. 1986. Davidson and
Passmore human nutrition and dietetics. New York: Churchill Livingstone. 666 p. 5. RAHMAN, A., AHUJA, A., BABOOTA, S., BALI. V., SAIGAL, N. & ALI, J. 2009. Recent
advances in pelletization technique for oral drug delivery. http://www.benthamscience.com/cdd/sample/cdd6-1/015AP.pdf
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Office: 0800 ACTIVO /228486 / +27 (0)12 848 7600. Fax: +27 (0)86 619 5833. www.activo.co.za. PMA197_03/2016
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