Concurrent micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in nonpregnant rural and tribal women from central India.
OBJECTIVE
The existence of concurrent micronutrient deficiencies in Indian women of reproductive age has received little attention. This study aimed to comprehensively assess the micronutrient status of nonpregnant rural and tribal women 18-30 y from central India.


METHODS
Participants (n = 109) were randomly selected using a stratified (rural-tribal) proportionate-to-population size cluster sampling method from 12 subcenters in Ramtek block, Nagpur. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary, and biochemical data, including blood and urine samples, were obtained.


RESULTS
Tribal and rural women had similar sociodemographic characteristics and anthropometric status; 63% of women had a body mass index <18.5 kg/m(2). The median urinary iodine concentration was 215 μg/L (IQR: 127, 319). The mean (SD) concentration of hemoglobin, serum zinc, retinol, and folate was 112 (13) g/L, 10.8 (1.6) μmol/L, 1.2 (0.3) μmol/L, 18.4 (8.4) nmol/L, respectively, with a geometric mean serum vitamin B(12) concentration of 186 pmol/L. The percentage of women with low values for hemoglobin (<120 g/L), serum zinc (<10.7 μmol/L), vitamin B(12) (<148 pmol/L), retinol (<0.7 μmol/L), and folate (<6.8 nmol/L) was 66%, 52%, 34%, 4%, and 2%, respectively. Tribal women had a higher prevalence of zinc deficiency (58% versus 39%, P = 0.054) and concurrent deficiency of any two micronutrients (46% versus 26%; P = 0.034), including zinc and anemia (38% versus 21%, P = 0.024).


CONCLUSIONS
Zinc, vitamin B(12), and iron constitute the principal micronutrient deficiencies in these women. Existing supplementation programs should be extended to include 18- to 30-y-old nonpregnant women as the majority of childbearing occurs within this timeframe.
Menon
Kavitha C
KC
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Skeaff
Sheila A
SA
Thomson
Christine D
CD
Gray
Andrew R
AR
Ferguson
Elaine L
EL
Zodpey
Sanjay
S
Saraf
Abhay
A
Das
Prabir Kumar
PK
Toteja
Gurudayal S
GS
Pandav
Chandrakant S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000652:urine; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013851:Thinness / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins; D018977:Micronutrients