Dietary intakes and socioeconomic factors are associated with the hemoglobin concentration of Bangladeshi women

Citation
A. Bhargava et al., Dietary intakes and socioeconomic factors are associated with the hemoglobin concentration of Bangladeshi women, J NUTR, 131(3), 2001, pp. 758-764
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Food Science/Nutrition","Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
ISSN journal
00223166 → ACNP
Volume
131
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
758 - 764
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-3166(200103)131:3<758:DIASFA>2.0.ZU;2-S
Abstract
Iron deficiency anemia affects a large number of women in developing countr ies, especially during child-bearing years. The hemoglobin concentration is useful for identifying iron deficiency anemia. The main objectives of this study were, first, to extend algorithms for calculating bioavailable iron from mixed diets, taking into account the enhancers and inhibitors of iron absorption under alternative assumptions on body iron stores. Second, a com prehensive longitudinal model was developed for the proximate determinants of hemoglobin concentration that included the subjects' dietary intakes, nu tritional status, morbidity and socioeconomic factors and the unobserved be tween-subject differences. The model for hemoglobin concentration was estim ated using three repeated observations on 514 free living women in Banglade sh. Socioeconomic factors affecting the iron intake from meat, fish and pou ltry and from all animal sources were also modeled. The main results were t hat bioavailable iron, women's height and mid upper arm circumference and i ntake of iron tablets were significant predictors of hemoglobin concentrati on. Increases in household incomes were associated with higher intake of ir on from meat, fish and poultry and from all animal sources, The algorithms for estimating bioavailable iron showed the importance of assumptions regar ding body iron stores and underscored the need to develop suitable algorith ms for subjects in developing countries.