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Nutrition expert Engineer Baraa Al-Muhdawy confirmed that the recent medical updates issued by global health bodies and institutions represent a pivotal shift in detecting iron deficiency problems.
She explained that the traditional reliance on hemoglobin testing alone is no longer sufficient to detect deficiency in its early stages, calling for the necessity of adopting ferritin testing to avoid silent symptoms and early stages that regular tests might overlook.
Al-Muhdawy pointed out that the new diagnostic criteria have raised the accepted limits; the diagnostic threshold for iron stores in adults and women of childbearing age has been redefined to be less than or equal to 30 nanograms/ml. She urged deeper care for cases with clear symptoms or heavy menstruation, noting that modern medical guidelines call for early diagnosis and treatment when iron stores drop below or equal to 50 nanograms/ml.
Regarding the regulation of dietary iron absorption efficiency, the nutrition expert called for utilizing enhancers and avoiding inhibitors; combining vitamin C sources such as 'lemon, orange, and pepper' with plant foods maximizes the body's utilization of iron. On the other hand, she warned against drinking tea and coffee containing 'tannin' or consuming calcium-rich foods and supplements concurrently with the main iron meal, as they directly hinder absorption and strip the meal of its benefits.
Engineer Baraa Al-Muhdawy concluded her talk by referring to the efforts and research led by international health organizations, primarily the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Society of Hematology (ASH), which aim to update diagnostic and therapeutic frameworks globally. She emphasized the importance of consulting specialized doctors and nutritionists to adhere to comprehensive dietary and treatment plans that ensure the safety and restoration of iron stores in the body.
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