title: Iron intake does not significantly correlate with iron deficiency among young Japanese women: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the association of nutrient intake with Fe deficiency with regard to lifestyle factors and health condition in young Japanese women. Uniquely among developed countries, dietary habits render Japanese populations vulnerable to Fe deficiency, owing to their relatively low intake of Fe and high intake of Fe absorption inhibitors, such as green tea and soyabeans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 1019 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18-25 years. Dietary habits during the preceding month were assessed using a previously validated, self-administered, diet history questionnaire. Blood analysis was performed to assess body Fe status. Subjects were categorized with Fe deficiency when their serum ferritin levels were <12 ng/ml. Twenty-nine dietary variables, i.e. intakes of energy, sixteen nutrients including Fe and twelve food groups, were analysed using multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for possible confounders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the subjects, 24.5% were categorized with Fe deficiency. However, no dietary factors assessed were significantly associated with Fe deficiency. The risk of Fe deficiency was significantly lower in women with infrequent or no menstrual cycles than in those with regular cycles (OR = 0.58; 95% CI 0.34, 1.00) and significantly higher in women with heavy menstrual flow than in women with average flow, albeit that these were self-reported (OR = 1.83; 95% CI 1.35, 2.48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that dietary habits, including Fe intake, do not significantly correlate with Fe deficiency among young Japanese women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Yoshiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Uenishi
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamakawa
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishiwaki
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takebayashi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001682:Biological Availability; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary; D007501:Iron