INTRODUCTION

Hematopoiesis, the production of circulating erythrocytes, platelets and leukocytes from
undifferentiated stem cells, is a remarkable process that produces over 200 billion new cells per
day in the normal person and even greater number of blood cells in people with conditions that
causes loss or destruction of blood cells. The hemopoietic machinery resides primarily in the
bone marrow in adults, and requires constant supply of three essential nutrients – iron, vitamin
B12 and folic acid
ANEMIA – a deficiency in oxygen carrying erythrocytes and very common in developing
countries
In this section anemia due to deficiency of iron, vit B12 or a folic acid will be dealt with.