Geophagy associated with severe anemia in non-pregnant women: A case series of 12 patients

Introduction Geophagy or soil eating is mostly described in pregnant women from Sub-Saharan Africa, South America. Here, we report 12 cases of geophagy associated with severe anemia in non-pregnant Nigerian women. Results/case reports The median age at diagnosis was 34.5 years. The socioeconomic level was average for all patients. The median hemoglobin level at admission was 6.9 g/dL (3.3–8.6), median corpuscular volume was 78.3 fL (63–106) and median serum ferritin was 9.2 ng/mL (3.6–11.2). The reasons of this practice were “desire” (5/12) and tradition (4/12). All patients received psychotherapy and supplementation with intravenous iron. Conclusion Geophagy is an underestimated practice in developed countries and in non-pregnant women. It can be the cause of severe iron deficiency and must be discussed in patients with anemia, including non-pregnant patients, and in Africa as well as in migration areas, where the practice can be exported.