IRON, VITAMIN-B-12 AND FOLATE STATUS IN MEXICO - ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN MEN AND WOMEN AND DURING PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

To determine the prevalence and causes of anemia in rural Mexico, bloo d samples and longitudinal dietary data were collected from 187 women, some pregnant and then lactating, and from 72 men. Blood was used to measure anemia, mean cell volume, and plasma ferritin, folate and vita min B-12. Anemia was found in 33% of the men, 54% of nonpregnant, nonl actating women, 35% of pregnant women and 41% of lactating women, and varied by season. Low iron stores (ferritin) accompanied anemia in onl y 8% of men compared with 38-67% of women. Low meat intake and poor di etary iron bioavailability were associated with anemia in women. There were no cases of low plasma folate. Low plasma vitamin B-12 was commo n in all groups, and the incidence increased from 15% at 7 mo of pregn ancy to 30% at 7 mo of lactation. Vitamin B-12 was lower in the plasma and milk of anemic lactating women than in plasma and milk of non-ane mic lactating women and was classified as deficient in 62% of breast m ilk samples.