Evaluating the role of dates compound in iron deficiency anemia in children

Abstract

Iron deficiency is by far the first cause of nutritional anemia worldwide. A large portion of iron deficiency is preventable with appropriate and timely intervention. Anemia has been a prevalent health issue in India with over 70% children. Nearly 73 million children below the age of three (79%) suffer from varying degrees of anemia. Pāṇḍu, in Āyurveda, is supposed to be the nearest co-related entity to anemia. Iron deficiency is usually the result of inadequate bioavailable dietary iron, increased iron requirement during rapid growth, and increased blood loss for any reason. If not corrected, iron deficiency leads to anemia and cognitive impairment, decreased physical capacity, and reduced immunity. The effects of anemia on children are the direst because their bodies are still developing. The management of this syndrome is supplementing elemental iron or bio-iron through food or as medicine. Elemental iron supplements have their own drawbacks as unwarranted effects like constipation, vomiting, metallic taste, non-acceptance and compliance, iron deposition in the tissues and sometimes iron toxicity. Bio-organic iron of natural origin (plant and animal origin) bypasses these symptoms, it is readily absorbed and readily bio-converted.