Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Yirrkala is an Aboriginal community in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Residents aged five years and over participated in a survey to establish the prevalence and causes of anaemia. Eleven per cent were anaemic (haemoglobin level less than 110 g/L). Most of these were iron deficient, and this deficiency was attributed, at least in part, to hookworm infestation; 15% were folate deficient; none was vitamin B12 deficient. There was no haemoglobinopathy, thalassaemia trait or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency detected.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Watson et al. (1986) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: