Serum ferritin as a measure of iron stores in the college girls.

The average daily iron consumption of the college girls was 48 per cent of the recommended dietary allowances of ICMR (1990). The Hb level was below the normal value. The values of serum iron, transferrin saturation (TS) and unsaturated iron bearing capacity (UIBC) were in the normal range but near the lower margin. The TIBC was above the normal range. The serum ferritin values showed very poor iron stores. A highly significant (p < 0.01) correlation was observed between Hb, serum iron and TS with serum ferritin. There is a superiority of ferritin over other blood parameters as it indicates the liver iron stores, hence, a better predictor of iron deficiency status.

Impact of nutrition counselling and supplements on the mineral nutriture of rural pregnant women and their neonates.

Sixty six young women from low and lower middle income groups selected from 8 villages of Ludhiana district in the first trimester of pregnancy were divided equally into Experimental (E) and Control (C) Groups, out of which only 60 subjects reached to the term. Folifer and calcium tablets were supplied to E group from second trimester till delivery along with regular medical supervision and nutrition education about additional nutrient needs. Intake of all the nutrients were less than the Recommended Dietary Allowances in the E and C groups during the third trimester. However, the requirement of iron, calcium, folic acid, vitamin B12, Vitamin D and ascorbic acid were met in group E due to supplementation. The Fe, Ca and Cu levels improved significantly during the third trimester in group E. The cord serum levels of Fe, Ca and Cu were also significantly higher in Group E. The relationships between maternal and cord blood levels of Fe, Ca and Cu were also significantly higher in Group E. The relationships between maternal and cord blood levels of Fe, Ca, Cu and Zn were significant, the co-efficients of correlation being 0.67, 0.92, 0.97 and 0.43, respectively. Serum Mn had an insignificant correlation with other minerals. The results indicated that 86.7, 94.7 and 44.8% variation (r2) in cord serum Ca, Cu and Fe levels was determined by the corresponding maternal serum levels. It is concluded that regular medical supervision, supplementation and nutrition education significantly improved the nutriture of the pregnant women and their neonates.

Impact of nutrition education and medical supervision on pregnancy outcome.

Sixty Punjabi women from low and lower middle income groups were selected from eight villages of Ludhiana district. The supplements of iron, folic acid and calcium in the form of Folifer and Calcium Sandoz tablets were regularly supplied to experimental (E) group from second trimester onwards. A pamphlet about the diet during pregnancy was distributed to the E group along with four individual and three group contacts during the second half of pregnancy. The control (C) group was provided iron and folate supplements as per Government practice. Body height, weight, mid-upper arm circumference (MUA) and skinfold thickness of the subjects were recorded. Weight gained during pregnancy and post partum weight were also recorded and body mass index was calculated. In addition, crown heel length (CHL), birth weight (BW), skinfold thickness, MUA, head circumference (HC), Chest circumference (CC) and ponderal index (PI) of the neonates were recorded within eight hours of their birth. The gain in weight during pregnancy was 6.30 and 5.7 kg in E and C groups respectively. The study revealed that BW, CHL, skinfold thickness and PI of the newborns were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in E group. The mean BW of newborns in E and C groups was 2700 g and 2300 g, respectively. Weight gained during pregnancy had significant (p < 0.05) correlation to MUA, BW and skinfold thickness of the newborn.