Body mass index, iron absorption and iron status in childbearing age women.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity has increased at an alarming rate worldwide. Some studies have observed an association between iron (Fe) deficiency (ID) and obesity, however more research is needed. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with both Fe absorption and Fe status. METHODS: A cross sectional sample of 318 Chilean childbearing age women was studied. The women received either a single dose of 0.5mg of Fe (n=137, group 1) or 3mg of Fe plus ascorbic acid (1:2 molar ratio) (n=181, group 2), both as FeSO4 with labeled radioisotopes. Fe absorption was assessed through radio Fe erythrocyte incorporation. Fe status was determined by hemoglobin (Hb), mean corpuscular volume, serum Fe, total iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation, erythrocyte Zn protoporphyrin and serum ferritin (SF). RESULTS: 29%, 47% and 24% of the women were classified as normal, overweight or obese, respectively. Fe absorption was significantly lower in obese women (p<0.05). In group 1, the geometric mean and range ±1 SD of the percentage of Fe absorption for normal-weight women was 32.9% vs. 19.7% in obese. For group 2, this percentage was 36% vs. 30%, respectively (2-way ANOVA: BMI classification and Fe dose p<0.05; interaction p=0.34). Although Fe absorption was lower in obese women, they had higher SF (p<0.01) and Hb (p<0.05) concentrations. CONCLUSION: Although we did not observe a relationship between BMI and Fe status, obese women displayed lower Fe absorption compared with overweight and normal weight women, possibly due to subclinical inflammation associated with obesity.

Estado nutricional de hierro, cobre y zinc en relación con el uso de método anticonceptivo hormonal / Iron, copper and zinc status in relation with the hormonal contraceptive method

Childbearing age women are part of a vulnerable group to present micronutrient deficiencies. It has been associated the contraceptive method (CM) with iron (Fe) status, and the hormonal CM (HCM) with the alteration of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) biomarkers. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of CM over the biomarkers of Fe, Cu and Zn status, and the prevalence of micronutrient deficiency on 81 Chilean childbearing age women. We evaluated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), hemoglobin (Hb), zinc protoporphyrin (Zpp), serum Fe (FeS) , transferrin saturation (TS), total Fe binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin receptor (Tfr), serum ferritin (SF), serum copper (CuS), ceruloplasmin (Cp) mass, activity and specific activity and serum zinc (ZnS). From the total women, 40% used HCM and 49% did not use HCM. Women using HCM showed higher values of FeS, ST, CuS, Cp mass and activity (p<0.05) and lower Zpp (p<0.05) compared with those that did not use HCM. Not statistical differences were found on MCV, Hb, TIBC, Tfr, SF, ZnS and Cp specific activity values between groups. HCM utilization did not affect Fe, Cu and Zn status in the studied population.

Las mujeres en edad reproductiva conforman un grupo vulnerable de presentar deficiencia de micronutrientes. Se ha relacionado el método anticonceptivo (MA) con el estatus de hierro (Fe), y al MA hormonal (MAH) con la alteración de bio-marcadores de cobre (Cu) y zinc (Zn). El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto del MA sobre los biomarcadores del estatus de Fe, Cu y Zn y la prevalencia de deficiencia de éstos, en 81 mujeres chilenas en edad reproductiva. Se evaluó el volumen corpuscular medio (VCM), hemoglobina (Hb), Zinc protoporfirina (Zpp), Fe sérico (FeS), saturación de tranferrina (ST), capacidad total de unión de Fe (TIBC), receptor de transferrina (rTf), ferritina sérica (FS), cobre sérico (CuS), ceruloplasmina (Cp) masa, actividad y actividad específica y zinc sérico (ZnS). El 40% utilizó MAH y 49% no utilizaba MAH. Las mujeres que utilizaban MAH presentaron valores más altos de FeS, ST, CuS, Cp masa y actividad (p<0,05) y menor Zpp (p<0,05) que aquellas que no utilizaban MAH. No se encontraron diferencias en el VCM, Hb, TIBC, rTf, FS, ZnS, y Cp actividad específica entre ambos grupos. Se concluye que el uso de MAH no afectó el estatus de Fe, Cu y Zn en la población estudiada.