New Delhi (NVI): Detecting iron deficiency early during pregnancy and in young children is crucial as it can have significant and irreversible effects on the brain development of a child.

In a bid to help detect iron deficiency and protect brain development, WHO has laid down guidelines on the use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations. The guidelines will help health workers to detect iron deficiency early and avoid the most severe impacts.

Iron deficiency in children under 2 years of age can lead to negative consequences on learning and school performance later in life, according to World Health Organistaion. Cognitive development of a child can also be affected if a mother is iron deficient during her last trimester of pregnancy.

Ferritin is a protein that can be found in small amounts circulating in a person’s blood. Ferritin levels are low in iron-deficient individuals and high in iron-loaded individuals.

WHO shows how to best measure ferritin, an indicator of iron stores, to help determine iron deficiency or overload. Accurate measurements of this protein, along with clinical and laboratory evaluation, can guide the appropriate interventions in both individual patients and at a population level.

The new guidelines also cover the early detection of iron overload. Iron overload is generally the result of disorders such as hereditary haemochromatosis, thalassaemia, repeated blood transfusions or other conditions that affect iron absorption or regulation and can also lead to deterioration of a person’s health if left untreated.

“Reducing anemia is one of the components of our efforts to eradicate all forms of malnutrition. However, progress has been limited and we still have 614 million women and 280 million children globally who suffer from it,” Francesco Branca, Director of the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO said. “Iron deficiency is a major determinant of anemia and measuring ferritin, a key biomarker of iron metabolism, will help us better target and evaluate our action to fight anemia”

Iron deficiency is the main cause of anaemia, which is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide, affecting 33 per cent of non-pregnant women, 40 per cent of pregnant women, and 42 per cent of children worldwide.

However, in adults, iron deficiency can also have negative effects including fatigue, impaired physical performance and decreased work productivity, as well as impacting social activities.

Iron deficiency occurs mainly when the requirements of iron increase during rapid periods of growth and development such as in early childhood, adolescence and pregnancy, but it can occur at other stages in life. In pregnant women, iron deficiency can cause anaemia, reduced birth weight and reduced gestation periods.

The WHO guidelines aim to help WHO Member States and their partners to make evidence-informed decisions on appropriate actions in their efforts to lower iron deficiency and improve the health and quality of life of individuals and populations.