Sub-Clinical Iron Deficiency-A Major Factor in Reducing Physical Fitness of Young Women

Abstract

Sub-clinical iron deficiency is a major concern in most of the developing countries especially among the women in the reproductive age group. Iron deficiency anaemia may impair work capacity, learning ability and immune functions. The universally accepted causes for it are low dietary intake and poor absorption of iron from cereal based vegetarian diets in Indians which leads to nutritional anaemia in 50 to 70 per cent women because of excessive body needs in this section.