MNT — Exam #2 : Part 1 Flashcards
What is Anemia?
- Deficiency in size or number of RBC’s or the amount of Hgb contained in RBC;
- “abnormal blood constitutes resulting from various etiologies; anemia is a symptom and is often a result of the decrement in blood constitutes, although some forms of elevated blood components that are non-functional may be referred to as anemia”
What is the current trend for Anemia in the US?
- Had been increasing, but finally leveled of and appears to be in a recent decline throughout the population;
- Proportion of anemic elderly is increasing!
Who is at most risk for developing Anemia in the US?
- Children under 2 yrs;
- Menstruating females;
- Pregnant females;
- Frail elderly;
- Female athletes;
- Obese children
Why are young children at risk?
- Mostly in the US between the ages of 1-2 (7%);
- Mostly related to poor intake and/or absorption ;
- Maternal milk contains lactoferrin which increase bioavailability to infants → Human milk and iron-fortified formula have DECREASED infant deficiency
What group has the highest iron deficiency rate in the US?
Deficiency in the US greatest among women ages 12-49 (12%)
Why are Pregnant Females at risk for anemia?
- Needs are much greater during pregnancy;
- Fetus takes precedence over mother and thus maternal stores are quickly lost
What happens if a pregnancy anemia goes untreated?
Maternal problems range from pre-eclampsia to pica during pregnancy, and several post-partum issues such as depression, cognitive disturbances, and gallstones ;
- Deficiency can Lead to premature birth, LBW, and other developmental disorders;
- Iron supps and multi-nutrients are highly common during pregnancy
Why is iron deficiency increasing in the elderly?
- Becoming increasingly common and rapidly increasing as more people are reaching the ages of 85 and beyond and naturally developing anemia → atypical presentation of anemia for this group;
- “Graying of America” (aging of the population) will most likely create a much higher percent found among older, poorer, minority women deeming them a high-risk group
Why is anemia common in Female Athletes?
RBC losses with consistent, continuous high impact landings coupled with menstruation losses, poor oral intake of iron and increased needs fro oxygen carrying capacity with sports
Why is iron deficiency seen in Obese Children?
Due to IRON-POOR food choices that are high in fat but lack micronutrients are though to be the main cause → Lots of empty calorie consumption ;
- Several other nutrient are also involved in heme-synthesis, so it might be due to a combo of deficiencies and not just a singular deficiency of iron itself ;
- NHANES – children who are overweight are TWICE as likely to be iron deficient as those of a healthy weight;
- Increased levels of body fat = increased levels of inflammatory cytokines which have been associated with anemia of chronic disease (ACD)
What is Hepcidin?
- Hormone that regulates iron homeostasis;
- -Iron def. with obesity with T2DM and metabolic syndrome is also studied with regard to hepcidin and/or ACD → Comorbid conditions!
Who is most at risk Worldwide for iron deficiency anemia?
- Iron-deficiency anemia varies the most by SES → those in poor countries, and poor people in wealthy areas are much likely do develop deficiency;
- Incidence and prevalence much higher among African American and Hispanic women than White women
What is Hemoglobin (g/dL)?
Concentration of oxygen carrying protein in RBC → the four-pyrrole ring compound in RBCs that contain iron centers and responsible for the transport of OXYGEN
What is Hematocrit (%)?
- Measures the percentage of whole blood volume that is made up of RBC ; Dependent on the number of RBC and size;
- Packed RBC volume expressed as a percentage of whole blood upon centrifugation
What is Serum Iron?
Represents the amount of iron in the BLOOD where it is bound to transferrin and available for RBC production
What is MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) (mcg/m3)?
Measures the average size of RBCs
What is MCHC (Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration)?
–
What is Serum Ferritin (mcg/L)?
-Iron STORAGE within the blood
What is Serum transferrin (g/L)?
-Available to TRANSPORT Iron throughout the blood
What is Total Iron binding capacity (TIBC) (mcg/dl)?
The capacity for the binding of iron by blood constitutes;
-A surrogate measure for TRANSFERRIN, since it binds most of the body’s iron
What is Transferrin Saturation (%)?
-Indicates extent to which transferrin is saturated with iron represents the amount of iron available to the tissues;
-(Serum iron ÷ TIBC) x 100 Normal: 20% – 50%;
—Stages I & II: Low – normal
— Stages III & IV: <16%
What is Soluble serum transferrin receptors (STFR’s)?
-INCREASE with iron deficiency;
-Transferrin binds iron and carries to bone marrow, epithelial cells (storage) and placenta.;
-Transferrin molecules generated on surface of RBC in response to need for iron.
→ With iron DEFICIENCY STFR’s break off surface of cell and float in serum
→ INCREASED levels indicate increased iron deficiency.
What are the Etiologies for Iron Def?
Lots of variation!;
-Can be from blood loss, inadequate iron intake, increased needs (pregnancy, athletes, during menstruation, etc.) poor absorption, excess or contaminates
What are the clinical manifestations of iron def?
- Cold extremities;
- Pallor;
- Fatigue;
- Malaise;
- Tachycardia (heart rate > 100 bpm)
What are the classification of Anemia based on?
- Cell size;
2. Hemoglobin content
What are the variations in cell size?
- Macrocytic – abnormally LARGE cells;
- Normocytic – normal sized cells ;
- Microcytic – abnormally SMALL cells
What are the variations in Hemoglobin content?
- Hypochromic – abnormally PALE in color upon visual inspection under a microscope → LOW hemoglobin ;
- Normochromic – normal coloration
What are the standard treatments for iron def?
- Continued iron-dense, nutrient-dense dietary intake, supps, and correction of underlying conditions causing deficit;;
- Uncomplicated deficiencies have up-regulated proteins for enhancing iron absorption in the GI tract = transferring/hepcidin;
- **Increasing nutrient density is the BEST option
What is Hepcidin?
- Hepcidin (hormone/protein) regulates iron status and RBC needs per the SI to manage absorption;
- Feedback mechanism allows increased absorption of heme and non-heme iron
What causes Nutritional Anemias?
Microcytic, macrocytic, hemolytic =
-Many anemias are caused by LACK OF NUTRIENTS required for normal erythrocyte (RBC) formation → Inability to make RBCs, which are MADE from Iron to CARRY Oxygen
What are the types of Nutritional Anemias?
- Iron;
- Vitamin B12;
- Folic Acid;
- Pyridoxine;
- Vitamin C;
- Protein;
- Copper
What are the MACROCYTIC Anemia Deficiencies?
- Cyanocabalamin (B12);
- Folate;
- Thiamin;
- Pyridoxine
What are the MICROCYTIC Anemia Deficiencies?
- Protein;
- Iron;
- Ascorbate;
- Vitamin A;
- Pyridoxine;
- Copper;
- Manganese
What are the MICROCYTIC Anemia Toxicities?
- Copper;
- Zinc;
- Lead;
- Cadmium;
- Other heavy metals
What causes Hemolytic Anemia?
-Vit. E deficiency or toxicity
What is the effect of decreased IRON stores on absorption?
- With decreased stores, increased absorption ;
- → Less you have, the more you absorb!!;
- If levels are adequate, will not absorb anymore because body does NOT need it
What is the effect of decreased FOLATE and B12 stores on absorption?
- Absorption is NOT increased when stores are decreased;
- Note: adequate folate intake can mask Vitamin B12 deficiency until neuropathy develops
What are the Morphological classifications of anemia?
- Hypochromic OR normochromic;
- Microcytic, normocytic, macrocytic
What defines Hypochromic, Microcytic anemia?
(MCV <31) =
- Iron Deficiency Anemia (chronic blood loss, inadequate diet/decreased absorption, increased demands) → Continuous loss coupled with low intake ;
- Thalassemia (disorder of globin synthesis, inherited);
- Pyridoxine responsive anemia
What defines Normochromic, Normocytic anemia?
(MCV 82-92; MCHC >30) =
- Recent blood loss → Large sudden loss of blood volume;
- Overexpansion of blood volume (pregnancy);
- Chronic disorders (Renal dx, cirrhosis of liver)
How does CRF and Cirrohosis cause Normochromic, Normocytic anemia?
- Chronic Renal failure leads to decreased production of Erythropoietin → Less RBCs are then produced leading to iron deficiency anemia
- Cirrohosis of Liver – Iron can actually become trapped in the liver and become toxic
What defines Marcocytic anemia?
(MCV > 94; MCHC >31) =
- Megaloblastic – large immature RBCs (Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid deficiency);
- Can be commonly attributed to chronic alcoholism;
- Disorders of DNA synthesis
What are the stages of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Stage 1: (moderate depletion of iron stores) = NO dysfunction;
- Stage 2: (Severe depletion of iron stores) = NO dysfunction;
- Stage 3: (Iron deficiency) = DYSFUNCTION;
- Stage 4: (Iron deficiency) = DYSFUNCTION and ANEMIA;
- *Labs are somewhat different in each stage.
What is the Early Dysfunctions seen with iron deficiency?
- Inadequate muscle function → decreased work performance & exercise tolerance;
- Neurologic involvement → fatigue, anorexia, pica- pagophagia, restless leg syndrome (could be attributed to depleted iron in the brain);
- Growth abnormalities/ Abnormal cognitive development in children;
- Decreased Immune function → frequent infections
What is Pica?
Craving clay and paint chips
What is Pagophagia?
Craving ice
What are the Later, more sever problems associated with Iron deficiency anemia?
- Defects in epithelial tissue → pallor of face, changes in tongue/ mouth, nails, stomach;
- Cardiac and respiratory changes → can lead to tachycardia, cardiac failure
What is the Medical Dx for Iron Def. Anemia?
- Need to include more than 1 method of evaluation → SO many factors account ;
- Most useful: serum ferritin, iron, and transferrin → affected the most readily; change more quickly than Hgb and Hct;
- Hemoglobin alone not appropriate for diagnosis
Why is Hgb NOT a good indicator for iron deficiency anemia diagnosis?
- Not affected until later in disease process;
- Cannot distinguish between iron deficiency and other anemias;
- Values vary significantly between healthy individuals
What are the Medical Management techniques for Iron Def. Anemia?
- Treat UNDERLYING cause of anemia;
1. Oral supplements;
2. Parenteral Iron-Dextran
What are the considerations for Oral Supps in treating Iron def?
- *Absorption and Affect on GI;
1. Ferrous iron → Reduced form;
2. Chelated form (combined with amino acids);
3. Empty stomach = Better absorption, but GI side effects/discomfort;
4. Vitamin C;
5. Take separately from other mineral supplements (avoid competition)
Why is Ferrous iron a good supp?
- Better absorption;
- Easier on GI tract
Why is the Chelated form a good supp?
- Better absorption;
- Less affected by iron absorption inhibitors;
- Easier on GI tract because needed in LOWER doses