Iron deficiency affects over one in three women -- WHO
Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder on the globe, with over a third of the world’s female population iron deficient, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Iron deficiency contributes to a variety of health consequences, particularly anaemia, with every second pregnant woman and about 40% of pre-school children in developing countries estimated to be anaemic. 
Anaemia describes a lack of sufficient red blood cells, or a reduction in the level of haemoglobin in the blood. As a result, the transportation of oxygen through the body is impaired, leading to possible poor pregnancy outcome, impaired physical and cognitive development, increased risk of morbidity in children and reduced work productivity in adults, according to the WHO. Anaemia contributes to 20% of all maternal deaths.
While various iron supplements may help, most are difficult to absorb, resulting in excretion of the majority of the iron and in side effects such as constipation, headaches and nausea.
A new product, the UK’s best-selling iron supplement (a naturally occurring, iron-rich mineral water, Spatone) is being launched in South Africa in September 2011. This supplement is unique in that 40% of the iron is absorbed by the body, far more than the 3-5% absorbed from food and up to 10% from regular iron supplementation.
Spatone is conveniently packaged in daily sachets and sourced from ancient Roman wells in the heart of Snowdonia, North Wales. It is clinically proven to be far more absorbable than conventional iron supplements and food and therefore more effective in preventing iron deficiency and anaemia.
“It is not actually how much iron we consume that matters but the amount of iron that our body is able to absorb. It has been shown that the iron absorption from Spatone is as high as 40% -- much higher than the iron absorption from food sources (5 - 20%) or conventional iron supplements (3 - 10%),” says responsible pharmacist for OTC Pharma SA, Giulia Criscuolo.
Studies also show that as many as one in four people over 60 are estimated to have low iron levels and more than 50% of all women runners are deficient in iron.
“Low iron levels result in fatigue and poor endurance since an insufficient amount of oxygen is supplied to the working muscles,” explains Criscuolo.
“As we get older, the ability of our stomach to absorb iron diminishes. This coupled with often a poorer appetite can lead to less than ideal iron levels. A recent study found that elderly people with iron deficiency have much less strength in their hand and knee muscles and poorer physical performance than their peers without iron deficiency,” adds Criscuolo.
Spatone is 100% natural, approved by the UK Vegetarian Society and safe to use during pregnancy and post-natal period.
Unlike most other iron supplements, Spatone is clinically proven not to cause any side effects such as constipation, nausea, headaches or metallic after taste. Spatone’s convenient sachets can either be consumed directly, or added to fruit juice, making Spatone the most convenient liquid iron supplement available. One sachet of Spatone provides the RDA of iron while it’s safe to take up to two sachets a day during pregnancy. Spatone is available from September 2011 in all health shops, pharmacies, Dis-Chem, Clicks, Pick n Pay and Medi-Rite.
For more info, see: www.spatone.com
