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Interventions for anemia prevention and control should incorporate an understanding of the biology as well as the assessment of the severity, magnitude, and prevalence of anemia in clinical and public health practice. The biological causes of anemia are complex and multifactorial, calling for a multifaceted approach to its assessment and treatment.

Interventions to reduce anemia, however, fall broadly into two main categories:

  1. Approaches that address anemia via clinical and public health interventions anemia (e.g., delayed cord clamping, malaria control, deworming)
  2. Approaches that address nutrients alone (e.g., dietary diversification, biofortification, food fortification, supplementation with iron and/or other micronutrients).

The two types of approaches can be targeted to specific population groups at different stages of the life course—mothers (during pregnancy, postpartum, and lactation), infants, young children, and adolescents.

When examining potential interventions against anemia, one must consider several factors, including: genetic mutation prevalence, the role of infection/inflammation in the target population on intervention effectiveness, as well as nutrient delivery methods, bioavailability of nutrients in the context, and the safety of interventions. Nutritional interventions must also consider the broader context of sustainability within food systems, with a focus on cultural factors and indigenous conditions, as well as climate change and environmental factors.

We found 69 resource(s)

Wheat Flour Fortification with Iron for Reducing Anaemia and Improving Iron Status in Populations
Systematic Review published by Cochrane Library in
This Cochrane Systematic Review synthesizes the evidence pertaining to the benefits and harms of wheat flour fortification with iron alone or with other vitamins and minerals in relation to anemia, iron status, and health‐related outcomes in populations over 2 years of age. Evidence from 9 studies suggests a very low to moderate certainty…
Review: Climate Change Impacts on Food Security- Focus on Perennial Cropping Systems and Nutritional Value
Literature Review published by Plant Science in
This review synthesizes evidence on the impact of climate change on fruit and vegetable crops, highlights existing knowledge gaps, and offers approaches to address future challenges using an integrative approach including genomics, phenomics, and future climate models.
Fortification of Wheat and Maize Flour with Folic Acid for Population Health Outcomes
Systematic Review published by Cochrane Library in
This Cochrane Systematic Review synthesizes the evidence pertaining to the safety and health benefits of folic acid fortification of wheat and maize flour for folate status and health outcomes in the overall population, compared to wheat or maize flour without folic acid. Evidence from 10 studies suggests that the fortification of wheat flour with…
Fortification of Staple Foods with Vitamin A for Vitamin A Deficiency
Systematic Review published by Cochrane Library in
This Cochrane Systematic Review synthesizes the evidence pertaining to the effects of fortifying staple foods with vitamin A in reducing vitamin A deficiency and improving health‐related outcomes in the general population older than 2 years.
Food Fortification with Multiple Micronutrients: Impact on Health Outcomes in General Population
Systematic Review published by Cochrane Library in
This Cochrane Systematic Review synthesizes the evidence pertaining to the impact of food fortification with multiple micronutrients on health outcomes in the general population, including men, women, and children.
Iron Biofortification Interventions to Improve Iron Status and Functional Outcomes
Systematic Review published by The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society in
This systematic review was conducted to evaluate the evidence of the efficacy of iron biofortification interventions on iron status and functional outcomes. Five studies from 3 randomized efficacy trials (rice, pearl millet, beans) conducted in India, the Philippines, and Rwanda were included. Findings suggest that iron biofortification is an…
Review of the Evidence Regarding the Use of Antenatal Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Literature Review published by Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences in
This review presents the conclusions of a task force that set out to assess the prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intakes and adverse birth outcomes in low- and middle-income countries; the data from trials comparing multiple-micronutrient supplements that contain iron–folic acid with iron–folic acid supplements alone; the risks of reaching…
Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes Related to Iron Supplementation or Iron Status: A Summary of Meta-Analyses
Systematic Review published by The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine in
This review was conducted to derive an umbrella summary of meta-analyses performed to evaluate the effects and associations of iron supplementation or iron status on maternal and birth/neonatal outcomes. Evidence from 16 meta-analyses suggests beneficial effects of multiple-micronutrient supplementation on some neonatal outcomes. Furthermore,…