TY - JOUR
T1 - Micronutrient deficiencies in early pregnancy are common, concurrent, and vary by season among rural nepali pregnant women
AU - Jiang, Tianan
AU - Christian, Parul
AU - Khatry, Subarna K.
AU - Wu, Lee
AU - West, Keith P.
PY - 2005/5
Y1 - 2005/5
N2 - Pregnant women in developing countries are vulnerable to multiple micronutrient deficiencies. We investigated their prevalence and seasonal variation as part of a baseline assessment in a population-based, maternal micronutrient supplementation trial conducted in the rural Southeastern plains of Nepal. Serum concentrations of 11 micronutrients were assessed in 1165 pregnant women in the 1st trimester before supplementation. Using defined cutoff values, the prevalence of deficiencies of vitamins A, E, and D were 7, 25, and 14%, respectively. Nearly 33% of the women were deficient in riboflavin, and 40 and 28% had serum vitamin B-6 and B-12 deficiencies, respectively. Only 12% of the women were folate deficient, but 61% were zinc deficient. The prevalence of low serum iron concentration was 40%, and 33% were anemic (hemoglobin < 110 g/L). Multiple micronutrient deficiencies were common among pregnant women. Over 10% of the pregnant women were both anemic and deficient in B-complex vitamins, whereas 22% of women were both anemic and zinc deficient. Only 4% of women had no deficiency, whereas ∼20% of the women had 2, 3, or 4 deficiencies. Almost 18% of women had ≥5 deficiencies. Micronutrient status varied by season; it was generally best during the winter months, except for serum vitamin D concentration, which peaked during the hot summer and monsoon months. Women in rural South Asia are likely to begin a pregnancy with multiple micronutrient deficiencies that may vary with seasonality in micronutrient-rich food availability.
AB - Pregnant women in developing countries are vulnerable to multiple micronutrient deficiencies. We investigated their prevalence and seasonal variation as part of a baseline assessment in a population-based, maternal micronutrient supplementation trial conducted in the rural Southeastern plains of Nepal. Serum concentrations of 11 micronutrients were assessed in 1165 pregnant women in the 1st trimester before supplementation. Using defined cutoff values, the prevalence of deficiencies of vitamins A, E, and D were 7, 25, and 14%, respectively. Nearly 33% of the women were deficient in riboflavin, and 40 and 28% had serum vitamin B-6 and B-12 deficiencies, respectively. Only 12% of the women were folate deficient, but 61% were zinc deficient. The prevalence of low serum iron concentration was 40%, and 33% were anemic (hemoglobin < 110 g/L). Multiple micronutrient deficiencies were common among pregnant women. Over 10% of the pregnant women were both anemic and deficient in B-complex vitamins, whereas 22% of women were both anemic and zinc deficient. Only 4% of women had no deficiency, whereas ∼20% of the women had 2, 3, or 4 deficiencies. Almost 18% of women had ≥5 deficiencies. Micronutrient status varied by season; it was generally best during the winter months, except for serum vitamin D concentration, which peaked during the hot summer and monsoon months. Women in rural South Asia are likely to begin a pregnancy with multiple micronutrient deficiencies that may vary with seasonality in micronutrient-rich food availability.
KW - Deficiency
KW - Micronutrients
KW - Nepal
KW - Pregnancy
KW - Season
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U2 - 10.1093/jn/135.5.1106
DO - 10.1093/jn/135.5.1106
M3 - Article
C2 - 15867289
AN - SCOPUS:18344365483
SN - 0022-3166
VL - 135
SP - 1106
EP - 1112
JO - Journal of Nutrition
JF - Journal of Nutrition
IS - 5
ER -