Diet and iron status of nonpregnant women in rural Central Mexico.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have examined the relation of iron status to diet in populations from developing countries with high levels of iron deficiency and diets of poor quality.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to identify nutrients, dietary constituents, and foods that are associated with better iron status in a rural Mexican population.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study was conducted in rural central Mexico. The subjects were 125 nonpregnant women aged 16-44 y. During the 12 mo before blood collection, food intakes were assessed repeatedly by a combination of dietary recalls, food weighing, and food diaries [mean (+/-SD) days of food intake data: 18.8 +/- 5.9 d]. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma ferritin were measured at the end of the study.


RESULTS
Higher plasma ferritin concentrations were associated with greater intakes of nonheme iron and ascorbic acid after control for age, BMI, breast-feeding, season, and the time since the birth of the last child. Higher ascorbic acid intakes, but not higher intakes of heme and nonheme iron, predicted a lower risk of low hemoglobin and hematocrit values after control for the background variables. Consumption of the alcoholic beverage pulque predicted a lower risk of low ferritin and low hemoglobin values. Seasonal variation in ferritin, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Better iron status was associated with greater intakes of foods containing nonheme iron and ascorbic acid. PULQUE:a beverage containing iron, ascorbic acid, and alcohol-may influence the iron status of women in rural central Mexico.
Backstrand
Jeffrey R
JR
Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University, New York, USA. backstr@umdnj.edu
Allen
Lindsay H
LH
Black
Anne K
AK
de Mata
Margarita
M
Pelto
Gretel H
GH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D007774:Lactation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008800:Mexico; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012424:Rural Population; D012621:Seasons; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins; D005492:Folic Acid; D007501:Iron; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid