Nutritional anemias in infancy.

Anemia in the 1st year of life should be an important warning sign to the clinician of a potential underlying nutritional deficiency. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are warranted in many cases, not only to treat the anemia but also, more important, to prevent other long-term sequelae associated with the underlying, causative deficiency. As more information about the impact of nutrition on various aspects of health is collected and newer therapies for the treatment of disease are developed, it will be important to understand and consider the role of vitamins and minerals in a light beyond the realm of nutritional anemia.