ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim was to verify the relations among intra-erythrocyte folate, serum vitamin B12, and hemoglobin concentrations in women of childbearing age and their association with several socioeconomic and demographic variables, nutritional status, and food consumption in the city of Recife, Northeastern Brazil.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a random sample of 1,210 women of childbearing age from the city of Recife. Concentrations of serum vitamin B12 and intra-erythrocyte folate were analyzed by immunoassay and hemoglobin concentrations by automated determination. A questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic and demographic data of nutritional status and a food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate food consumption.Results: Reductions in hemoglobin concentrations were found in 141 women (12.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 10.3-13.9), serum vitamin B12 in 81 women (7.0%; 95% CI, 5.7-8.6), and only 1 woman had a reduction in intra-erythrocyte folate concentrations. No women had a concomitant reduction of intra-erythrocyte folate, serum vitamin B12, and hemoglobin concentrations. However, 13 women (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.6-1.9) had a concomitant deficiency of hemoglobin and vitamin B12. Intra-erythrocyte folate concentrations were higher in women of a higher age and income. Hemoglobin concentrations were lower in smokers, and serum vitamin B12 concentrations did not show a significant variation in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, and anthropometric parameters. There was no strong correlation between food consumption and biochemical concentrations evaluated.Conclusion: Despite the strategies to eradicate anemia, this nutritional deficiency was dominant. Serum vitamin B12 deficiency outpacing intra-erythrocyte folate is worrying due to the lack of programs to fight against vitamin B12 insufficiency. Age and income were directly related to intra-erythrocyte folate concentrations. Food consumption suggests that there is a homeostatic control to maintain equilibrium at biochemical concentrations.
Subject(s)
Erythrocytes/metabolism , Folic Acid/blood , Nutritional Status , Vitamin B 12/blood , Adult , Aging , Brazil/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Folic Acid/metabolism , Folic Acid Deficiency/blood , Folic Acid Deficiency/epidemiology , Humans , Middle Aged , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/blood , Vitamin B 12 Deficiency/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
A anemia é considerada um problema de saúde pública em escala mundial e é o distúrbio hematológico de maior prevalência que acomete a população idosa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a prevalência e características da anemia em idosos do Programa de Saúde da Família de Camaragibe, PE. O delineamento foi transversal, com amostra aleatória sistemática de 284 idosos > 60 anos, de ambos os sexos, realizado em novembro/dezembro-2003. A anemia foi avaliada pela hemoglobina (Hb), concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM), volume corpuscular médio (VCM) e amplitude de distribuição eritrocitária (RDW). A prevalência de anemia foi, em média, de 11,0 por cento. A morfologia eritrocitária não mostrou associação com as concentrações de Hb. A grande maioria dos idosos apresentou anemia normocrômica, normocítica, sem anisocitose, sugestivo de anemia por doença crônica. A ínfima prevalência de microcitose e macrocitose com anisocitoseminimiza a gênese da deficiência de ferro, bem como da deficiência de vitamina B12 e ácido fólico na etiologia da anemia em idosos. Concluímos que o uso de indicadores que reflitam o grau de anisocitose eritrocitária associados àqueles que avaliam o estado nutricional do ferro é extremamente recomendado para o diagnóstico das anemias em idosos.
Anemia is a serious public health problem worldwide that mainly affects children and women of childbearing age. However, data about anemia in elderly individuals are still scarce in developing countries. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and characteristics of anemia among an elderly population attending the Health Family Program in Camaragibe, northeast Brazil. Following a systematic sampling procedure, a cross-sectional study was carried out in November and December 2003 involving 284 subjects of both genders with ages grater than or equal to 60 years old. Anemia was estimated by the measurement of hemoglobin, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume and red cell distribution width. The prevalence of anemia was around 11.0 percent. Red cell distribution width and mean cell volume were not correlated to hemoglobin count. The major characteristics of anemia were normochromia with normocytosis without anisocytosis suggesting anemia due to chronic diseases. The very low prevalence of microcytosis, macrocytosis and anisocytosis seems to be more likely due to causes other than iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiencies. The use of indicators that reflect the degree of anisocytosis, as well as parameters to assess iron status should be strongly recommended in the screening of anemia in the elderly population.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Aged , Anemia , Family Health , Health of the Elderly , Prevalence , National Health StrategiesABSTRACT
As discussoes sobre desenvolvimento e nutriçäo frequentemente se realizam sob um duplo enfoque: aqueles que consideram o estado nutricional como reflexo de desenvolvimento, e os que admitem que a nutriçäo influencia fortemente no nível e ritmo desse desenvolvimento. Visualiza a nutriçäo como um fator decisivo para um bom desenvolvimento social e econômico, particularizando o fato de que as intervençoes nutricionais podem contribuir para melhorias significativas nos resultados escolares, na produtividade do trabalho e na resistência às infecçoes. Em face dos propósitos de modernizaçäo e competitividade da economia, é inquestionável a necessidade da nutriçäo figurar bem alto na lista de prioridades nacionais. Com isso, promover-se-ia o desenvolvimento dos recursos humanos e preservaçäo desse capital, que é o ideário de uma economia socialmente responsável.
