Iron status of premenopausal women in two regions of Bangladesh: prevalence of deficiency in high and low socio-economic groups.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess iron status in women of different physiological status of two socio-economic groups in Bangladesh.


METHODS
Cross sectional study, using 3-day food record and blood haemoglobin, serum iron, serum ferritin concentrations.


METHODS
Two regions of Bangladesh. The Dhaka city area and west region of Nandail, Mymensingh.


METHODS
Women aged 16-40 y. The low socio-economic group (group L, n=101) consisted of rural women with precarious income levels. The high socio-economic group (group H, n=90) consisted of women with high income and educational levels. The groups were composed of three sub-groups (non-pregnant non-lactating=1, pregnant = 2 and lactating = 3).


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the corresponding sub-groups of the two socio-economic groups in dietary intake of iron. In all sub-groups, the intake of iron was much higher than the RDA level and mainly based on non-haem iron. Blood haemoglobin (B-Hb) concentration (P=0.000), serum iron concentration (P=0.005) and serum ferritin (SF) concentration (P=0.000) were affected by socio-economic status. Physiological status (PS) influenced the B-Hb concentration (P=0.000). Prevalence of anaemia ranged from 63 to 70% in group L and 27 to 66% in group H, respectively. The prevalence of empty iron store (SF concentration<12 microg/l) ranged from 35 to 59% in group L and 15 to 32% in group H, respectively. The prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency (70 and 35% for sub-group L2; 66 and 32% for sub-group H2, respectively) were similar in the pregnant subjects of the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Subclinical iron deficiency was common in women of low socio-economic status. The pregnant subjects in the two groups was similar as regards iron status.


BACKGROUND
The study was supported by the Academy of Finland, University of Helsinki and NorFa, Norway.
Islam
M Z
MZ
Division of Nutrition, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Lamberg-Allardt
C
C
Bhuyan
M A
MA
Salamatullah
Q
Q
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007774:Lactation; D011247:Pregnancy; D017697:Premenopause / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron