Introduction

Hematopoiesis, the production of circulating erythrocytes, platelets and leukocytes from undifferentiated stem cells, is a remarkable process that produces over 200 billion new cells per day in the normal person and even greater number of blood cells in people with conditions that causes loss or destruction of blood cells. The hemopoietic machinery resides primarily in the bone marrow in adults, and requires constant supply of three essential nutrients – iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.

ANEMIA – a deficiency in oxygen carrying erythrocytes and very common in developing countries.

In this section anemia due to deficiency of iron, vit B₁₂ or a folic acid will be dealt with.