Little is known about the micronutrient status of women of reproductive age in China. We measured plasma concentrations of folic acid (FA), vitamin B12 (B12), vitamin (B6), ferritin (FER), and transferrin receptor (TfR) in 563 young women (mean age 25 ± 1.5y) textile workers in Anqing, China (about 300 miles west of Shanghai). All women were intending to become pregnant within the next year and were participating in a prospective study of pregnancy outcomes. Less than 3% of the subjects took micronutrient supplements. Normal cut-off values were: FA ³6.8 nmol/L; B12 ³221 pmol/L; B6 ³ 30 nmol/L as pyridoxal-5'-phosphate; FER ³ 12 mg/L; TfR < 7.8mg/L. Overall, 23% of women were deficient in FA, 10% in B12, and 26% in B6; abnormal FER was observed in 17% and elevated TfR in 13%. Deficiency of at least one vitamin was observed in 44% of women, whereas deficiency of all three vitamins was observed in only 1%. Our findings suggest that deficiencies of B vitamins and iron are common in this population of young women intending to become pregnant, which could jeopardize their health and increase their risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Learning Objectives: 1. Evaluate the micronutrient status of young women of reproductive age 2. Recognize the prevalence of deficiencies of B vitamin and iron in young Asian women
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.