Addressing Female Iron-Deficiency Anaemia in India: Is Vegetarianism the Major Obstacle?

Abstract

Objectives. We examined the influence of vegetarian diet on the risk of developing anaemia among Indian women and suggest initiatives for addressing diet-related iron-deficiency anaemia. Methods. We analysed data on diet, social class, and haemoglobin levels from the nationally representative Indian National Family and Health Survey 2005/06 for a sample of 81,301 women aged 15-49 years using logistic regression models. Results. After controlling for individual-level factors and household level socioeconomic characteristics, daily consumption of meat, fish, and eggs was associated with lower odds of being moderately or severely anaemic. Our analysis also revealed that economic characteristics such as being from higher wealth quintiles, being in paid employment, and rural residence reduced the odds of having iron-deficiency anaemia among Indian women. Discussion. As a large proportion of Indians subsist on iron-poor vegetarian diets for religious, economic, and cultural reasons, large-scale iron supplementation and fortification of commonly consumed vegetarian foodstuffs constitute a feasible, culturally appropriate, and cost-effective strategy for addressing this major public health problem. Consumption of cheap iron-rich foodstuffs should be promoted. Effective poverty alleviation and hookworm prevention programs are also important. Large-scale cohort and intervention studies are urgently required to further define the influence of vegetarianism on iron deficiency anaemia in India.

Incidence and outcome of anemia in pregnant women: a study in a tertiary care centre

“…However, a significant association was observed in a study by Cheema et al, where vegetarians were found to be predominantly affected. Similar results were observed by Rammohan et al and Singh et al 19,20 Most of the patients who were anemic were multiparous, with more than 3 gravida. This was in concurrence with a study in Nigeria, by Zama et al, who found that more of multiparous women were anemic.…”

Study of the red cell indices, hemogram and platelet variations in anaemic (<10gm%) patients by automatic cell counter in a tertiary care centre, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India

“…13 Recent estimates of iron-deficiency anaemia show that 52% of Indian women aged 15-49 years are anemic. 18 Similarly in present study maximum females showed microcytic anemia which has its most common cause to be iron deficiency. The population group with the greatest number of individuals affected is pregnant women (41.8%).…”

“…18 But according to our study platelet count was found to be reducing with reduction in hemoglobin count.…”

Hemoglobin status in pregnant women for diagnosis of anemia, assessment of severity and its socio-demographic determinants in rural area of Kanpur district, Uttar Pradesh, India

“…Present study are similar to, a cross sectional study in New Delhi had revealed that there was a trend of decreasing severity of anemia with higher per capita income as found in the present study. 15 In India, pregnant Hindu women are advised to avoid non vegetarian diet during pregnancy as it generates heat. Dietary pattern significantly influences anemia status.…”