title: Iron status of predominantly lacto-ovo vegetarian East Indian immigrants to Canada: a model approach.
abstract: Iron status of East Indian predominantly lacto-ovo vegetarian immigrants (59 males, mean age 37.7 +/- 10.5 yr; 55 females, mean age 33.3 +/- 7.4 yr) was assessed using dietary and biochemical-iron indices, including a Tri-index (TI) model. Iron deficiency was higher among females than males: 33% vs 5%, respectively, via the TI model (serum ferritin, serum-transferrin saturation, and mean corpuscular-hemoglobin concentration) and 18-42% vs 2-22%, respectively, via individual biochemical-iron indices. Rates of anemia calculated via the TI model in combination with low hemoglobin and mixed-distribution analysis (MDA) were similar and higher for the females (TI + Hb = 16%; MDA = 12%) than for the males (TI + Hb = 5%; MDA = 3%). High prevalence among females was attributed to low available iron intakes, concomitant with high intakes of dietary fiber, phytate, and tannins. We recommend the TI-model approach to estimate relative prevalence of iron deficiency in small surveys.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000208:ethnology*; D002170:Canada; D004032:Diet; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D007501:Iron