Page 73 - Life Insurance underwriting Ebook IC 22

The best sources of iron are meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and iron-fortified foods right foods
are eaten. For example, good nonmeat sources of iron include spinach and other dark
green leafy vegetables, certain types of beans, dried fruits, and iron-fortified breads and
cereals. Absence of balanced diet can lead to development of Iron Deficiency Anemia,
especially in young children, and women.

b) Thalassemia

Thalassemias are inherited blood disorder where the parents pass the genes for the

disorder on to their children. The disorders occur most often among people of certain
populations like Indian (especially among Sindhis, Gujaratis, Parsis and Lohanas)

Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African descent.

Thalassemias cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less

hemoglobin People who have thalassemias can have mild or severe anemia

Normal hemoglobin, also called hemoglobin A, has four protein chains-two alpha
globins and two beta globins. The two major types of thalassemia, alpha and beta, are

named after defects in these protein chains.

Types of Thalassemia

I) Alpha Thalassemia

The alpha thalassemia is caused by a decrease in production of alpha globins chains
due to a deletion or mutation of one or more of the four alpha globin genes located on

chromosome 16. Alpha gene mapping can be obtained to determine the specific

mutation. Four genes (two from each parent) are needed to make enough alpha globin
protein chains.

Alpha thalassemia trait occurs if one or two of the four genes are missing. If more than
two genes are missing, moderate to severe anemia occurs. The most severe form of

alpha thalassemia is called alpha thalassemia major. Babies who have this disorder

usually die before or shortly after birth.

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