Postpartum iron status in nonlactating participants and nonparticipants inthe Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

Background: Iron deficiency, a pervasive problem among low-income women of childbearing age, threatens maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. The Spe cial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was designed to alleviate health problems and provides supplemental nutriti ous foods, nutrition education, and health care referrals. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the benefits associated wi th participation in WIC in terms of biochemical tests of postpartum iron st atus in nonlactating women. Design: WIC participants (n = 57) and eligible nonparticipants (n = 53), ma tched by race and age, were followed bimonthly over 6 mo postpartum. Finger stick blood samples (500 muL) were collected for measurement of plasma fer ritin, transferrin receptor (TfR), and hemoglobin (Hb). Results: The mean (+/-SE) Hb concentration of participants exceeded that of nonparticipants from months 2 through 6. At 6 mo, the mean Hb concentratio n of participants was significantly higher than that of nonparticipants (8. 01 +/- 0.12 and 7.63 +/- 0.12 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.05) and the preva lence of anemia was significantly lower (17% and 51%, respectively; P < 0.0 5). TfR and ferritin concentrations (consistently within the reference rang es) and dietary iron intakes did not differ significantly between participa nts and nonparticipants and were not correlated with Hb concentrations. Conclusions: Our results suggest that WIC participants were significantly l ess likely to become anemic if uninterrupted postpartum participation laste d for 6 mo. The lack of correlation among iron status indicators suggests t hat the lower mean Hb concentration in nonparticipants at 6 mo may not have been related to improved iron status in participants but to other nutrient deficiencies or differences in access to health care and health and nutrit ion education.