IL10 and Iron deficiency anemia: However, the significant difference in slopes in the association between IFN-γ and IL-10 with respect to iron deficiency anaemia status, in particular the negative association seen in iron deficiency anaemia, emphasizes that probably the response shifts in deficiency situations from one type of cytokine response to the other; particularly the balance between IFN-γ and IL-10 which is said to be critical in controlling malaria infection.