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Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional)
  Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional)
 Signs, symptoms, indicators
 Conditions that suggest it
 Contributing risk factors
 Conditions suggested by it
 Treatment recommendations
 


In all, there are over 400 types of anemia. All but a few of them are very rare. The most common anemias are related to dietary problems (referred to as nutritional deficiency anemias) and can be managed through dietary measures. These do not require major medical interventions such as transfusions and marrow replacement. Causes & Development

Nutritional anemias are associated with poor bone marrow cell production and low reticulocyte counts and indices. Starvation leads to an overall failure to make new red blood cells, for lack of raw material. Another way to starve, even though you may be eating enough, is for your intestines to not absorb the food. When you fail to absorb what you eat, you will have diarrhea and weight loss in addition to the anemia.

Iron, vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies can also produce forms of nutritional anemia - Iron Deficiency Anemia and Megaloblastic Anemia.





Signs, symptoms & indicators of Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional):
Lab Values - Cells  Low red blood cell count

Counter-indicators:
  Elevated/normal hemoglobin levels

Lab Values - Common
  Rapid pulse rate

Lab Values - Nutrients
  Low B6 levels or history of B6 deficiency (confirmed)

Symptoms - General
  Fatigue induced by light exertion
  Constant fatigue

Counter-indicators:
  Not having constant fatigue

Symptoms - Respiratory
  Always being short of/easily being short of breath

Symptoms - Skin - General
  Lighter/paler skin color

Conditions that suggest Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional):
Metabolic  Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome

Risk factors for Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional):
Metabolic  Pyroluria
 Pyrolurics are generally anemic.

  Anorexia / Starvation Tendency

Tumors, Malignant
  Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
 Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in almost all leukemia patients.

Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional) suggests the following may be present:
Metabolic  Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
  Pyroluria
 Pyrolurics are generally anemic.

Tumors, Malignant
  Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
 Anemia, a deficiency of red cells, develops in almost all leukemia patients.

Recommendations and treatments for Anemia (Uncommon Nutritional):
Lab Tests/Rule-Outs  CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test
  Test Copper Levels

Vitamins
  Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
 Vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron.


KEY
Weak or unproven link
Strong or generally accepted link
Proven definite or direct link
Weakly counter-indicative
Strongly counter-indicative
Likely to help
Highly recommended


GLOSSARY

Anemia (Anaemia, Anemias)
A condition resulting from an unusually low number of red blood cells or too little hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia in which the red blood cells are reduced in size and number, and hemoglobin levels are low. Clinical symptoms include shortness of breath, lethargy and heart palpitations.

Cobalamin (B12, B-12, Cobalamine, Vitamin B12)
Essential for normal growth and functioning of all body cells, especially those of bone marrow (red blood cell formation), gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, it prevents pernicious anemia and plays a crucial part in the reproduction of every cell of the body i.e. synthesis of genetic material (DNA).

Diarrhea
Excessive discharge of contents of bowel.

Iron
An essential mineral. Prevents anemia: as a constituent of hemoglobin, transports oxygen throughout the body. Virtually all of the oxygen used by cells in the life process are brought to the cells by the hemoglobin of red blood cells. Iron is a small but most vital, component of the hemoglobin in 20,000 billion red blood cells, of which 115 million are formed every minute. Heme iron (from meat) is absorbed 10 times more readily than the ferrous or ferric form.

Leukemia
Cancer of the lymph glands and bone marrow resulting in overproduction of white blood cells (related to Hodgkin's disease).

Megaloblast (Megaloblastic, Megaloblasts)
An abnormally large nucleated red blood cell found especially in people having pernicious anemia or certain vitamin deficiencies.

Red Blood Cell (Erythrocyte, Erythrocytes, RBC, Red Blood Cells)
Any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of blood.

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
A water-soluble antioxidant vitamin essential to the body's health. When bound to other nutrients, for example calcium, it would be referred to as "calcium ascorbate". As an antioxidant, it inhibits the formation of nitrosamines (a suspected carcinogen). Vitamin C is important for maintenance of bones, teeth, collagen and blood vessels (capillaries), enhances iron absorption and red blood cell formation, helps in the utilization of carbohydrates and synthesis of fats and proteins, aids in fighting bacterial infections, and interacts with other nutrients. It is present in citrus fruits, tomatoes, berries, potatoes and fresh, green leafy vegetables.




Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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