FACTS – PROBLEMS - SOLUTION

3. Pregnancy

In developing countries every second pregnant woman and about 40% of preschool children are estimated to be anaemic.

The major health consequences include poor pregnancy outcome, impaired physical and cognitive development, increased risk of morbidity in children and reduced work productivity in adults. Anaemia contributes to 20% of all maternal deaths.

FACTS

A negative iron balance causes not only physical and mental fatigue, but may also lead to anemia. Iron deficiency in children may disturb the learning ability, which cannot be substituted along the way.

Iron deficiency results in low birth weight for the foetus. Studies in Great Britain have shown that people who had low birth weight were at increased risk of coronary heart disease and the disorders related to it: stroke, non-insulin dependent diabetes, raised blood pressure, and the metabolic syndrome.

FACTS

Children who have iron-deficiency anemia in infancy are at risk for long-lasting developmental disadvantage as compared with their peers with better iron status.

Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency state in the world, affecting more than 2 billion people globally.

Iron deficiency is particularly prevalent in less-developed countries,

PROBLEMS

Many patients cannot handle the usual iron medications due to common side-effects in the form of stomach problems.

Often iron preparations have multiple dosage per day and rules for their timing as well as for other simultaneously ingested foodstuff or drink.

Uptake for non-heme iron is only 2 – 4 %, so most of it goes to waste.

PROBLEMS

The success of any iron therapy is closely related to user friendliness.

This means that tolerance and dosage-related compliance is of central importance.

REACTION

Heme iron therapy has the simplest possible dosage: One or more tablets once per day, at anytime.

No need to consider other simultaneously ingested foodstuff or drink.

Uptake for heme iron is 15 – 25 %.

SOLUTION

Heme iron is very well tolerated. There are no known unpleasant side-effects.

Uptake or tolerance will not change over time.

SOLUTION

Swedish company FerroCare/MediTec has a strong commitment to reach

people suffering from iron deficiency, but have problems with

existing supplements.

• OptiFer® tablets are based on natural bovine heme iron and will safely and efficiently keep iron counts at an optimal level.

www.ferrocare.se www.hemeiron.com