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Which nutrient deficiencies commonly cause anemia?
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nutritional disease
Children with rickets. The disease, which most commonly strikes children, causes bone deformities such as bowlegs. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D or calcium.
Nutritional deficiencies are a primary cause of anemia, a condition characterized by a reduction in the number or volume of red blood cells or a deficiency in hemoglobin. The most common nutrient deficiencies leading to anemia include:1
- Iron: Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide. Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout the body. When iron stores are depleted, the body produces smaller red blood cells that contain less hemoglobin than normal.23
- Vitamin B12: A deficiency in vitamin B12 impairs DNA synthesis and red blood cell production, leading to megaloblastic anemia. This often occurs due to poor absorption, such as in pernicious anemia, or dietary restrictions in strict vegetarians.4
- Folic Acid (Folate): Folic acid deficiency anemia also results in megaloblastic anemia. Folic acid is required for the maturation of red blood cells; a deficiency can be caused by inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption, or increased physiological demands, such as during pregnancy.45