Anaemia in pregnancy is a serious public health problem. It leads to maternal mortality unless the women
with low haemoglobin (< 5.0 g/dl) are given blood transfusion. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is in the range of 63–75 per 1000 live births. A. K. Susheela and her team report an effective interventional approach to control anaemia in pregnant women; the procedure is simple and easily implementable in health delivery outlets. The focus is on withdrawing fluoride from ingestion.

If urine fluoride is more than 1.0 mg/l, one need to take adequate care that fluoride-containing items are not consumed; fluoridated toothpaste is substituted with Ayurvedic pastes with less fluoride content.

A series of adverse reactions of fluoride consumption are known to occur in cells and tissues:

(i) Production of less number of erythrocytes (RBCs)/abnormal erythrocytes by the bone marrow and other haemopoetic tissues due to inadequate thyroid hormonal stimulus;

(ii) Reduced blood folic acid activity;

(iii) Reduced microbial growth in the gut and inhibits vitamin B12 production by the probiotics;

(iv) Loss of microvilli (brush border) in the intestinal lining, resulting in non-absorption of nutrients for haemoglobin biosynthesis.

The merit of the procedure lies in reversing the damages caused, and within a few days upon withdrawal of fluoride.

Download the Scientifc Paper published in the Journal: Current Science Vol.98, No.10, Page 1320-1330 May 25th, 2010 in pdf.