Experts urge adoption of multi-dimensional dietary strategy to combat anaemia in India

The high prevalence of anaemia among women and children in India has remained unchanged for decades. To prevent it, it has now become imperative to adopt a multi-dimensional dietary strategy rather than relying solely on Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets. According to a report by 'The Hindu', anaemia has so far been viewed only in connection with iron deficiency, which has proven to be a major mistake. National surveys show that iron deficiency is not the primary cause of anaemia. In fact, in one-third of anaemia cases, no micronutrient deficiency or clear cause is observed.

According to experts, the issue is not just about taking iron, but how well it is absorbed in the body and how it is used to produce haemoglobin. So far, two main strategies have been implemented by the government: first, the distribution of IFA tablets for women and children, and second, the mandatory fortification of staple food items. However, these strategies have failed to deliver the expected results in real-world scenarios. While broad strategies like fortification may succeed in clinical trials, their benefits in the general population are limited and they may even prove harmful for those who do not require them.

In this situation, two important questions arise: Is the iron content in the Indian diet actually low, and is the provided iron being absorbed correctly? Experts believe that to prevent anaemia, there is now a need to move away from the traditional approach and adopt a more scientific and multi-dimensional approach. Instead of relying solely on medication, it is necessary to focus on diet quality and the absorption of nutrients.

Various government programmes have been run in India for decades to address this problem, but challenges have been faced in bringing about a significant reduction in anaemia rates. To solve this problem, emphasis is now being placed on scientific evidence and improvements in dietary practices.