The Molecular Connection Between Aluminum Toxicity, Anemia, Inflammation and Obesity: Therapeutic Cues

Anemia is reported to be the most common blood disorder. A variety of anemic conditions affecting various groups of people exist and each of the types of anemia has different underlying causes. Iron (Fe) deficiency, a potent instigator of anemia, is the most common mineral deficiency and its effects have been linked to slow physical development and impaired cognitive function along with behavioral and learning disturbances (De Giudice et al, 2009). Exacerbating the iron deficiency epidemic is obesity, a disease defined by an excess accumulation of body fat leading to adverse health effects. It has been demonstrated that there is an association between poor iron status and obesity. The relationship between the two conditions has been shown in children, adolescents and adults including postmenopausal women. Obesity is now considered an independent factor contributing to iron deficiency (McClung et al, 2009). Gaining incredible importance as a global health issue, obesity rates are increasing worldwide. The World Health Organization estimated that in 2005, 1.6 billion adults were overweight (body mass index (BMI) =25), and over 400 million adults were obese (BMI =30). Notably, there is an increase in the incidence of childhood and adolescent obesity in industrialized countries where the number of affected population has more than doubled over the past few decades. A similar trend has been observed in developing countries such as Egypt, Brazil and Mexico. What used to be considered a “rich” country issue has now become a worldwide epidemic and the situation is continuously worsening (Hintze et al, 2010).