Iron status of pregnant Indian women from an area of active iron supplementation.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the iron status of pregnant tribal women from Ramtek, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India using a combination of indices.


METHODS
A community-based observational study was conducted to assess iron status using a convenience sample of pregnant Indian tribal women from Ramtek. Pregnant women were recruited at 13 to 22 wk gestation (first visit; n = 211) and followed to 29 to 42 wk gestation (second visit; n = 177) of pregnancy. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data; iron supplement intake; and blood samples for estimating hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were obtained.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) Hb concentration at recruitment was 106 (15) g/L and 106 (14) g/L at the second visit; 41% of the women at recruitment and 55% at second visit were anemic (14% higher, P < 0.001). No women at recruitment and 3.7% at second visit had SF concentration < 15 ng/mL; and 3.3% at recruitment and 3.9% at the second visit had sTfR > 4.4 ng/mL (0.6% higher, P = 0.179). Almost 62% and 71% of pregnant women used iron supplements at both visits, respectively. Iron supplement intake > 7 d in the preceding month improved the Hb concentration by 3.23 g/L and reduced sTfR concentration by 13%; women who were breastfeeding at the time of recruitment had 11% higher SF concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
The iron indices suggest that pregnant tribal women of central India, although anemic, had good iron status. Use of iron supplements > 7 d in the preceding month improved iron status; however, non-iron-deficiency anemia persisted in this group.
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Healthy Lifestyle Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Pulau Penang, Malaysia.
Kavitha C
KC
Menon
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.
Elaine L
EL
Ferguson
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Christine D
CD
Thomson
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Andrew R
AR
Gray
Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India.
Sanjay
S
Zodpey
Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, India.
Abhay
A
Saraf
Health and Family Welfare Training Institute, Nagpur, India.
Prabir Kumar
PK
Das
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Chandrakant S
CS
Pandav
Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: sheila.skeaff@otago.ac.nz.
Sheila A
SA
Skeaff
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011247:Pregnancy; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000097:blood; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D006454:Hemoglobins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D005293:Ferritins
Anemia; Dietary supplements; Iron deficiency anemia; Iron status; Pregnant women