Anaemia Profile-Nutritional

For those with inadequate nutrition.

This profile is for individuals to find out nutritional deficiency anemias.

This profile rules out inadequate nutrition. This profile includes CBC,Iron Studies,Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Ferritin.

• A Nutritional Anemia Profile is typically done to evaluate individuals who have symptoms of anemia or have a known or suspected risk for nutritional anemia.
• The Nutritional Anemia Profile test helps to determine the type of anemia and its underlying cause, which is crucial in guiding treatment and monitoring.

Based on the results, physicians may recommend dietary changes, supplements, or in some cases, iron or vitamin B12 injections to restore the deficiency.

You should get the Anaemia Profile-Nutritional done if you observe the following symptoms:

• Appetite loss or weight loss
• Cold hands and feet
• Brittle nails
• Rapid heartbeat
• Fatigue and weakness
• Breathlessness
• Pale skin, lips and eyes
• Inability to focus or confusion
• Loss of memory
• Headaches
• Dizziness

Some individuals may be at higher risk of nutritional anemia, such as those with chronic disease, pregnant women, vegetarians and vegans, and elderly individuals.

Anaemia Profile-Nutritional includes the following group and individual test:

• CBC tests for all Blood cells like RBC, WBC and Platelets, their count and morphology along with Hemoglobin level (Hb), RBC indices (MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW) & PDW.
• Iron studies (Iron, TIBC, UIBC, Transferrin saturation %)
• Vitamins like vitamin B12 and Folic Acid
• Ferritin

This test requires a blood sample. A tourniquet (elastic) band is placed tightly on the upper arm. The patient is then asked to make a fist. This helps in the build-up of blood filling the veins. The skin is disinfected before needle insertion and the blood sample is collected in vacutainer.

From IT masters

A positive test result for a Nutritional Anemia Profile typically means that there is evidence of anemia caused by a nutritional deficiency.

• A positive test result for a Complete Blood Count (CBC) would indicate a low red blood cell count, low hemoglobin, and low hematocrit, which are all characteristic of anemia.
• Iron studies, including tests for Iron, Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC), Unsaturated Iron-Binding Capacity (UIBC), and Transferrin saturation %, can be used to evaluate iron deficiency anemia. A positive test result would indicate low iron levels, high TIBC and UIBC and low Transferrin saturation %. This would indicate a deficiency of iron in body.
• A positive Vitamin B12 test result would indicate a deficiency of vitamin B12, which is needed for the production of healthy red blood cells. Similarly, a positive Folic acid test result would indicate a deficiency of folic acid, which is also needed for the production of healthy red blood cells.
• A positive Ferritin test would indicate low levels of ferritin, which is a protein that stores iron in the body. Low levels of ferritin would indicate that body's iron stores are low, which would be consistent with iron deficiency anemia.

It's also worth noting that a diagnosis of nutritional anemia may also require clinical presentation and other investigations as well.