尽管由于政府干预措施的成功，印度的营养不良率在过去十年中有所下降，但贫血的患病率仍然很高。主食提供了每日铁摄入量的近 70%。由于主食是植酸的丰富来源，这种摄入的铁很难被吸收。目前，59% 的 3 岁以下儿童、50% 的孕妇和 53% 的 15-19 岁妇女患有贫血症。最常见的干预策略是使用铁补充剂。虽然依从性低且供应不规律，但不能仅用缺铁来解释如此高的贫血率。这篇综述试图适应饮食和烹饪习惯、现场诊断、将管理战略实施过程中的文化信仰和限制纳入更大的图景，以提供有关为什么贫血继续困扰印度的见解。由于印度农村的饮食主要是素食，我们还回顾了影响非血红素铁吸收的饮食因素。作为参考，我们还将印度与美国的贫血相关趋势进行了对比。因此，本次审查旨在传达整体评估，同时提供解决这一公共卫生危机的方法。 While rates of malnutrition have declined over the last decade in India due to successful government interventions, the prevalence of anemia remains high. Staple foods provide almost 70% of the daily iron intake. As staple foods are a rich source of phytate, this ingested iron is poorly absorbed. Currently, 59% of children below 3 years of age, 50% of expectant mothers and 53% of women aged 15–19 years are anemic. The most common intervention strategy has been through the use of iron supplements. While the compliance has been low and supplies irregular, such high rates of anemia cannot be explained by iron deficiency alone. This review attempts to fit dietary and cooking practices, field-level diagnostics, cultural beliefs and constraints in implementation of management strategies into a larger picture scenario to offer insights as to why anemia continues to plague India. Since the rural Indian diet is predominantly vegetarian, we also review dietary factors that influence non-heme iron absorption. As a reference point, we also contrast anemia-related trends in India to the USA. Thus, this review is an effort to convey a holistic evaluation while providing approaches to address this public health crisis.