DISEASE OF HEMATOLOGICAL SYSTEM

• Nutrients Required in Blood Formation:
• Protein called transferrin binds to iron and transports it throughout the body to help make red blood cells containing hemoglobin
• Iron is essential for blood production, found in red blood cells and muscle cells, essential for oxygen transfer in the blood
• Riboflavin is involved in red blood cell production and oxygen transportation to cells, increasing riboflavin can boost hemoglobin levels and red cell production
• Folic acid, a B vitamin, helps in making red blood cells and low levels can cause megaloblastic anemia
• Vitamin B6 functions as a coenzyme in heme production, a component of hemoglobin critical for oxygen transport
• B12 is necessary for red blood cell production and oxygen transport, deficiency can lead to anemia causing weakness and fatigue
• Copper helps form hemoglobin, make red blood cells, and aids in energy production and iron absorption
• Components of Blood and Importance:
• Plasma is the liquid component of blood, transporting blood cells, nutrients, waste products, antibodies, and hormones
• Red Blood Cells (erythrocytes) contain hemoglobin for oxygen transport, have a short lifespan of about 120 days
• White Blood Cells (leukocytes) protect the body from infection, with neutrophils and lymphocytes playing key roles
• Platelets (thrombocytes) help in blood clotting at injury sites to prevent excess blood loss and promote healing
• Diseases of the Blood:
• Anemia is a blood disorder with symptoms like tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, and reduced exercise ability
• Anemia diagnosis criteria vary between men and women, with hemoglobin levels below specific thresholds indicating anemia
• Causes of Anemia include blood loss, decreased red blood cell production, and increased red blood cell breakdown
• Anemia can be classified based on the size of red blood cells and hemoglobin levels, leading to different types like microcytic & hypochromic anemia and macrocytic anemia
• Nutritional anemia includes iron deficiency anemia and pernicious anemia, resulting from deficiencies in iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12
• Iron deficiency anemia is common worldwide, with symptoms like fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath
• Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia include inadequate iron intake, especially critical during rapid growth and development stages like pregnancy and childhood
• Iron-deficiency anemia causes:

  • Pregnancy or blood loss due to menstruation
  • Internal bleeding from medical conditions like stomach ulcers, polyps, or colon cancer
  • Inability to absorb iron due to disorders or surgeries affecting the intestines
  • Endometriosis causing heavy blood loss during menstrual periods
  • Genetics, such as celiac disease or genetic mutations affecting iron absorption
• Forms of food iron:

  • Heme iron: component of hemoglobin, myoglobin, & respiratory enzymes, well absorbed at 15-35%
  • Nonheme iron: less absorbed at 2-20%, found in plant foods, noncellular animal foods like eggs
• Factors affecting nonheme iron absorption:

  • Ascorbic acid, amino acids, and chelates enhance absorption
  • Tea, coffee, calcium phosphate, tannates inhibit absorption
  • Iron in egg yolk (phosvitin) is poorly absorbed
• Nutrition therapy for iron-deficiency anemia:

  • Diets high in red meat, dark leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, iron-fortified cereals, or bread can help treat or prevent iron deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia symptoms:

  • Pale yellow skin, sore/red tongue, mouth ulcers, paraesthesia, changes in movement, vision, irritability, depression, cognitive decline
• Causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia:

  • Pernicious Anemia: autoimmune condition affecting stomach's ability to absorb B12
  • Diet lacking B12, common in vegans or those with poor diets
  • Stomach or intestinal conditions affecting B12 absorption
  • Medications like proton pump inhibitors inhibiting B12 absorption
  • Functional B12 deficiency affecting B12 transport proteins
• Nutrition therapy for Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia:

  • Treat with diet and vitamin supplements, including foods like beef, liver, chicken, fish, shellfish, and B12 tablets or injections
• Folate deficiency anemia symptoms:

  • Anemia-related symptoms, reduced taste, diarrhea, numbness, weakness, depression
• Causes of Folate deficiency anemia:

  • Diet lacking folate, common in those with unbalanced diets, alcohol misuse, or fad diets
  • Malabsorption due to conditions like coeliac disease
  • Excessive urination from conditions like heart failure, liver damage, or dialysis
  • Medications like anticonvulsants, colestyramine, sulfasalazine, methotrexate
• Other causes of Folate deficiency anemia:

  • Pregnancy, cancer, blood disorders, infections, premature babies needing higher folate levels
• Nutrition therapy for Folate deficiency anemia:

  • Prevented and treated with a healthy diet rich in folic acid, including nuts, leafy greens, enriched breads, cereals, fruits, and folic acid supplements