Obese women less likely to have low serum ferritin, Nicaragua.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between overweight and obesity and serum ferritin among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Nicaragua, considering the effect of α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), a marker of inflammation.


METHODS
We analysed data from the 2004-05 Nicaraguan Integrated Surveillance System for Nutrition Interventions. Three logistic regression models were analysed with low serum ferritin (<15 μg/l) as the dependent variable: (i) overweight or obese status and covariates; (ii) model 1 plus AGP; and (iii) model 1 restricted to only women with normal AGP levels (≤1.0 g/l).


METHODS
Nicaragua.


METHODS
Included in this analysis were 832 non-pregnant mother/caregivers (15-49 years) surveyed in 2004-2005.


RESULTS
In the sample, prevalence of overweight and obesity was 31.8 % and 19.2 %, respectively, and 27.6 % had low serum ferritin. In model 1, the adjusted OR of low serum ferritin was 0.74 (95 % CI 0.52, 1.05) for overweight women and 0.42 (95 % CI 0.26, 0.65) for obese women. In model 2, AGP was significantly independently associated with low serum ferritin (adjusted OR=0.56, 95 % CI 0.34, 0.92) while the adjusted OR for overweight and obesity were largely unchanged. Excluding women with elevated AGP did not appreciably affect the relationship between overweight or obesity and low serum ferritin (model 3).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, in this population of reproductive-age women, obese women were less likely to have low serum ferritin levels, and this was independent of inflammation as measured by AGP.
1Nutrition and Health Sciences Program,Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences,Laney Graduate School,Emory University,1599 Clifton Road NE - Room 6.426,Atlanta,GA 30322,USA.
Amanda S
AS
Wendt
2Division of Nutrition,Physical Activity,and Obesity,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,GA,USA.
Maria E
ME
Jefferds
2Division of Nutrition,Physical Activity,and Obesity,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,GA,USA.
Cria G
CG
Perrine
3Nutrition Component,Ministry of Health,Managua,Nicaragua.
Patricia
P
Halleslevens
2Division of Nutrition,Physical Activity,and Obesity,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta,GA,USA.
Kevin M
KM
Sullivan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009527:Nicaragua; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000276:immunology; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D009961:Orosomucoid; D005293:Ferritins
α1-Acid glycoprotein