Journal
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION
Volume 11, Issue 7, Pages 737-746Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S1368980008001833
Keywords
iron-deficiency anaemia; food consumption; adolescents; boarding schools; Benin
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Iron deficiency (ID) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency in the world, particularly in developing countries. Blood samples and a qualitative FFQ on Fe and vitamin C-rich foods were obtained in 180 adolescent girls aged 12 to 17 years living in two boarding schools from south Berlin. ID, defined as serum ferritin either <20 mu g/l or 20-50 mu g/l, plus two of the following Parameters: serum Fe<11 mu mol/l, total iron-binding capacity >73 mu mol/l or transferrin saturation <20%, was found in 32% of subjects. Anaemia (Hb <120 g/l) was found in 51% of adolescents, while 24% Suffered from iron-deficiency anaemia(IDA) (ID and HI) <20 g/l). After adjusting for confounding factors (age, mother's and father's occupation, household size) in a logistic regression equation, Subjects having a low meat consumption (beef, mutton, pork) (<4 times/week) were more than twice as likely to suffer from ID (OR = 2.43; 95% Cl 1.72, 3.35; P = 0.04). Adolescents consuming less fruits (<4 times/week) also had a higher likelihood of suffering from ID (OR = 1.53; 95% CI 1.31, 2.80; P = 0.03). Finally, subjects whose meat consumption was low were twice as likely to suffer from IDA (OR = 2.24; 95% CI 1.01, 4.96; P = 0.04). The prevalence of ID represents an important health problem in these Beninese adolescent girls. A higher consumption of Fe-rich foods and of promoters of Fe absorption (meat factor and vitamin C is recommended to prevent ID deficiency in these subjects.
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