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Interpretation of Biomarkers and Diagnosis of Nutritional Anaemias

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Nutritional Anemia

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

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Abstract

Globally, the most common causes of anaemia are nutritional. Identifying the underlying cause of anaemia is important in ensuring a patient receives the correct treatment and at a population level to inform policy and guide interventions. This chapter focusses on the biomarkers available for the diagnosis of iron deficiency—the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide—and vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies which also contribute to anaemia. Red cell morphology and red cell indices (such as the mean cell volume, mean cell haemoglobin and red cell distribution width) may be suggestive of one of these nutritional deficiencies as the cause of anaemia, with numerous specific biomarkers available to further aid in the diagnosis. Ferritin is the most reliable biomarker for the assessment of iron status, despite its inherent limitations which are discussed. Other biomarkers such as soluble transferrin receptor and transferrin saturation and emerging biomarkers such as hepcidin may be useful in some circumstances. Measurement of serum levels of vitamin B12 (total or active) and folate (or red cell folate) is the initial investigation performed for the megaloblastic anaemias of vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies, with additional biomarkers (homocysteine and methylmalonic acid) confirming tissue deficiency. This chapter discusses the interpretation of these biomarkers in the diagnosis of nutritional anaemias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Australia

    Danielle Clucas

  2. Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia

    Danielle Clucas

  3. Diagnostic Haematology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia

    Danielle Clucas

  4. Department of Medicine at the Doherty Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Beverley-Ann Biggs

  5. Victorian Infectious Diseases Service, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Australia

    Beverley-Ann Biggs

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  1. Danielle Clucas
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Correspondence to Danielle Clucas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Human Nutrition, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Crystal D. Karakochuk

  2. Institute of Food Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Michael B. Zimmermann

  3. Department of Health, University of Applied Sciences of South Switzerland (SUPSI) and Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences (FFHS), Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland

    Diego Moretti

  4. International Health, Sight and Life Foundation and Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Basel, Switzerland

    Klaus Kraemer

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Clucas, D., Biggs, BA. (2022). Interpretation of Biomarkers and Diagnosis of Nutritional Anaemias. In: Karakochuk, C.D., Zimmermann, M.B., Moretti, D., Kraemer, K. (eds) Nutritional Anemia. Nutrition and Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14521-6_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14521-6_4

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