Question

Dana went to the doctor because she has been experiencing bleeding gums, pinpoint hemorrhages, and fatigue. Her doctor discovered that she had an iron-deficiency anemia. She did not understand the anemia because she said that she typically eats a bowl of iron-fortified cereal in the morning and has meat and rice for dinner several nights per week.. Which nutrient is Dana lacking and how can she improve her diet .

Answer 1

Dana is lacking vitamin C in her diet. Rice serves as a good source of B vitamins (thiamine, niacin and riboflavin) and iron. Meat is a major source of B-complex vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niaci, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. It also contains biotin and pantothenic acid. Though Dana is eating a bowl of iron fortified cereal, there must be low absorption of iron which lead to iron deficiency anaemia. Her diet would be improved by taking fresh fruits (citrus fruits like orange, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi and other fruits like papaya, strawberries and cantaloupe) and fresh vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and capsicums) which are rich source of Vitamin C. Vtamin C and iron deficiency anaemia often occur together. Low levels of Vitamin C results in reduction in absorption of iron from plant based foods thus negatively affecting irom metabolism. Bleeding gums, pinpoint hemorrhages and fatigue are early symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C acts as reducing agent to facilitate iron absorption from gastro-intestinal tract and to enable its mobilization from storage.