1. Zinc, Gravida, Infection, and Iron, but Not Vitamin B-12 or Folate Status, Predict Hemoglobin during Pregnancy in Southern Ethiopia
- Author
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Robert H. Allen, Yewelsew Abebe, Nancy F. Krebs, K. Michael Hambidge, Sally P. Stabler, Rosalind S. Gibson, Jamie E Westcott, and Barbara J. Stoecker
- Subjects
Vitamin ,Nutrition and Dietetics ,Anemia ,Retinol ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,Physiology ,Biology ,medicine.disease ,Micronutrient ,Ferritin ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,B vitamins ,Biochemistry ,chemistry ,Iron-deficiency anemia ,biology.protein ,medicine ,Vitamin B12 - Abstract
The etiology of anemia during pregnancy in rural Southern Ethiopia is uncertain. Intakes of animal-source foods are low and infections and bacterial overgrowth probably coexist. We therefore measured the dietary intakes of a convenience sample of Sidama women in late pregnancy who consumed either maize (n = 68) or fermented enset (Enset ventricosum) (n = 31) as their major energy source. Blood samples were analyzed for a complete blood count, vitamin B-12 and folate status, plasma ferritin, retinol, zinc, albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The role of infection and gravida was also examined. Dietary intakes were calculated from 1-d weighed records. No cellular animal products were consumed. Of the women, 29% had anemia, 13% had iron deficiency anemia, 33% had depleted iron stores, and 74 and 27% had low plasma zinc and retinol, respectively. Only 2% had low plasma folate ( 271 nmol/L). None had elevated plasma cystathionine or total homocysteine (tHcys). Women with enset-based diets had higher (P = 0.052) plasma vitamin B-12 concentration and lower (P or = 12 microg/L) status were major positive predictors of hemoglobin. Despite some early functional vitamin B-12 deficiency, there was no macrocytic anemia. Consumption of fermented enset may have increased vitamin B-12 levels in diet and plasma.
- Published
- 2008
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