Lucky iron fish

It was therefore not recommended for use in Cambodia and other countries where the majority of anaemia is not due to iron deficiency and the prevalence of genetic hemoglobin disorders is high.

[4] Iron deficiency is the "most widespread nutritional disorder" in Cambodia,[5] affecting 44% of the population and resulting in a GDP loss of about $70 billion annually.

[6] Cast-iron cookware is known to transmit iron to food through cooking, but the cost to obtain it is prohibitive for impoverished people in rural Cambodia.

[7] University of Guelph student Christopher Charles received a grant to conduct epidemiological health research in Cambodia from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) after completing an undergraduate degree in biomedical science.

[8] Several weeks before returning to Canada to start his Master's program, Charles called his doctoral advisor Alastair Summerlee to postpone his hormone research project.

[8][2] Summerlee told him to focus his research on preventing iron deficiency anemia, which eventually "spiralled into a PhD project".

[8] During discussions with village elders, Charles learned about a fish species deemed a symbol of good luck, health, and happiness in local folklore.

[11] In the study area, tube well water has high concentrations of arsenic and manganese ions, which act as complexing agents in the presence of iron.

[6] A randomized control trial in 2017 found that the iron fish did not increase hemoglobin concentrations in a sample group of 340 Cambodian women.

[1] In December 2012, University of Guelph biomedical science doctoral student Gavin Armstrong established The Lucky Iron Fish Project, a company founded to commercialize the concept.