PART II - WHO

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PPAARRTT IIIIEvaluating the public health significance ofmicronutrient 14/11/06 16:43 Page 14/11/06 16:43 Page 40IntroductionThe chapters in part II of these guidelines provide more detailed backgroundinformation on the prevalence, causes and health consequences of variousmicronutrient deficiencies, and review the available evidence regarding the ben-efits of their control. They are intended to assist planners not only in their eval-uation of the micronutrient deficiency situation in their own country, but alsoto assess the need for, and potential benefits of, food fortification with 3 looks at iron , vitamin A and iodine deficiencies, which, owing totheir widespread occurrence globally, have received the most attention to large amount of information is now available regarding the prevalence, thecauses a

3. IRON, VITAMIN A AND IODINE 45 T ABLE 3.1 Indicators for assessing iron status at the population level a Indicator Sample Population group Cut-off to define Comments deficiency Mild Severe Haemoglobin b Blood Children 6–59 months 110g/l Not defined Blood haemoglobin is primarily an indicator of anaemia but can Children 5–11 years 115g/l provide useful information regarding iron status ...

  Assessing, Part, Iron, Status, Part ii, Assessing iron status, Iron status