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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffMany types of anemia can't be prevented. However, you can help avoid iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias by eating a healthy, varied diet, including:
- Iron. The best sources of iron are beef and other meats. Other foods rich in iron include beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, dried fruit, peanut butter and nuts.
- Folate. This nutrient, and its synthetic form, folic acid, can be found in citrus juices and fruits, bananas, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes and fortified breads, cereals and pasta.
- Vitamin B-12. This vitamin is plentiful in meat and dairy products.
- Vitamin C. Foods containing vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, melons and berries, help increase iron absorption.
Eating plenty of iron-containing foods is particularly important for people who have high iron requirements, such as children — iron is needed during growth spurts — and pregnant and menstruating women. Adequate iron intake is also crucial for infants, strict vegetarians and long-distance runners.
Caution about iron supplements
Doctors may prescribe iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron for people with high iron requirements. But iron supplements are appropriate only when you need more iron than a balanced diet can provide. Don't assume that if you're tired, you simply need to take iron supplements. Overloading your body with iron can be dangerous.
Genetic counseling
If you have a family history of an inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia, talk to your doctor and possibly a genetic counselor about your risk and what risks you may pass on to your children.
- Anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/anemia/anemia_whatis.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2008.
- Pernicious anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/prnanmia/prnanmia_all.html. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
- Schrier SL. Patient information: Iron deficiency anemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Schrier SL, et al. Anemia of chronic disease (anemia of chronic inflammation). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Schrier SL. Aplastic anemia: Pathogenesis; clinical manifestations; and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Schrier SL. Approach to the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia in the adult. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Hemolytic anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ha/ha_all.html. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
- Sickle cell anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ha/ha_all.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2008.
- Schrier SL. Aplastic anemia: Prognosis and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Schrier SL. Causes and diagnosis of anemia due to iron deficiency. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
- Mechanisms of Anemia. In: Hoffman R et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/114764765-5/786318263/1267/208.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06628-0..50032-8--cesec2_821. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
- Linker CA. General Approach to Anemias. In: McPhee SJ et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009. 48th ed. San Francisco, Calif.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5476&searchStr=anemias. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
