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Nutritional-deficiency anaemia arises when the body lacks enough nutrients to make healthy red blood cells and haemoglobin. The most frequent causes are iron, vitamin B12, folate and, less often, copper deficiency. These shortages may result from an imbalanced diet, increased nutritional needs, poor absorption, chronic gastrointestinal problems, or certain drugs.

Symptoms are frequently insidious in onset and may include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headache, pallor, dyspnoea, and decreased exercise tolerance. Some people may have trouble concentrating, become irritable or have a rapid heartbeat. Specific defects can provide additional features. For example, low levels of vitamin B12 might produce numbness, tingling or neurological abnormalities, and severe iron deficiency can cause brittle nails or strange cravings.
Diagnosis is typically made from medical history, physical examination, and blood tests such as a complete blood count and tests for specific nutrients. Additionally, taking supplements alone may not address an absorption issue or ongoing nutritional loss, so it’s essential to identify the underlying cause.

Treatment depends on the insufficient vitamin and its cause. It may be diet improvement, oral supplements or prescribed vitamin or mineral replacement. Leafy greens, legumes, eggs, meat, seafood, fortified cereals, nuts and seeds are foods that may help support healthy blood formation.

Haemoglobin levels can be restored, symptoms relieved and consequences prevented if diagnosed early enough and treated correctly.