The paradox of anemia with high meat intake: a review of the multifactorial etiology of anemia in the Inuit of North America

Abstract

Anemia is a serious concern among indigenous populations in North America, and it appears to be widespread among the Inuit despite abundant intakes of heme iron. It is therefore hypothesized that anemia for the Inuit involves other dietary factors not usually associated with animal foods, such as low intakes of vitamin A and/or folate, riboflavin, and vitamin C. Also, Helicobacter pylori infection and/or parasitosis may result in gastrointestinal blood loss and/or functional iron deficiency. This review aims to describe factors that may cause anemia in Inuit populations despite high meat intakes, abundant bioavailable iron, and other important hematological nutrients.

Helicobacter pyloriInfection and Anemia in Taiwanese Adults

“…Concomitant inflammation can greatly affect the level of serum ferritin. The level of ferritin for iron-deficiency varies from 12–15 ng/mL without concomitant inflammation to more than 50 ng/mL with concomitant inflammation [21, 22]. The levels of serum ferritin are liable to change under many conditions, including chronic inflammation, hyperthyroidism, malignancy (leukemia, Hodgkin's disease), and even type 2 diabetes mellitus.…”

Neglected Infections of Poverty among the Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic

“…Gastrointestinal infection with Helicobacter pylori among the Inuit and Alaskan natives has been observed [10]. High rates of iron deficiency anemia have been described in Arctic populations infected with H. pylori [10], [23]–[25], which presumably occurs through gastritis and gastrointestinal bleeding.…”

Quercetin and Ellagic Acid in Gastric Ulcer Prevention: An Integrated Scheme of the Potential Mechanisms of Action From in Vivo Study

“…Ferritin is the major storage protein in the body for iron and the most powerful marker for diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia [62]. Ferritin is affected by iron deficiency as it reaches to 12-15 ng/ml without concomitant inflammation and to move than 50 ng/ ml with concomitant inflammation [63]. Blood loss due to gastric lesions and the inhibition of iron absorption as a result of the elevated pH of gastric juice is responsible for the onset of anemia in peptic ulcer patients [64].…”