Sharply higher rates of iron deficiency in obese Mexican women and children are predicted by obesity-related inflammation rather than by differences in dietary iron intake.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Obese individuals may be at increased risk of iron deficiency (ID), but it is unclear whether this is due to poor dietary iron intakes or to adiposity-related inflammation.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to examine the relations between body mass index (BMI), dietary iron, and dietary factors affecting iron bioavailability, iron status, and inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)] in a transition country where obesity and ID are common.

DESIGN:

Data from the 1999 Mexican Nutrition Survey, which included 1174 children (aged 5-12 y) and 621 nonpregnant women (aged 18-50 y), were analyzed.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of obesity was 25.3% in women and 3.5% in children. The prevalence of ID was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in obese women and children compared with normal-weight subjects [odds ratios (95% CIs): 1.92 (1.23, 3.01) and 3.96 (1.34, 11.67) for women and children, respectively]. Despite similar dietary iron intakes in the 2 groups, serum iron concentrations were lower in obese women than in normal-weight women (62.6 ± 29.5 compared with 72.4 ± 34.6 μg/dL; P = 0.014), and total-iron-binding capacity was higher in obese children than in normal-weight children (399 ± 51 compared with 360 ± 48 μg/dL; P < 0.001). CRP concentrations in obese women and children were 4 times those of their normal-weight counterparts (P < 0.05). CRP but not iron intake was a strong negative predictor of iron status, independently of BMI (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

The risk of ID in obese Mexican women and children was 2-4 times that of normal-weight individuals at similar dietary iron intakes. This increased risk of ID may be due to the effects of obesity-related inflammation on dietary iron absorption. Thus, ID control efforts in Mexico may be hampered by increasing rates of adiposity in women and children.

• Authors: Ana C Cepeda-Lopez, Saskia Jm Osendarp, Alida Melse-Boonstra, Isabelle Aeberli, Francisco Gonzalez-Salazar, Edith Feskens, Salvador Villalpando, Michael B Zimmermann
• Journal: The American journal of clinical nutrition (Am J Clin Nutr) Vol. 93 Issue 5 Pg. 975-83 (May 2011) ISSN: 1938-3207 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21411619 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Iron, Dietary
• C-Reactive Protein
• Iron

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Anemia, Iron-Deficiency (complications, epidemiology)
• Body Mass Index
• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Developing Countries
• Diet (adverse effects)
• Female
• Health Transition
• Humans
• Inflammation (complications)
• Iron (blood)
• Iron, Dietary (administration & dosage, metabolism)
• Male
• Mexico (epidemiology)
• Middle Aged
• Nutrition Surveys
• Nutritional Status
• Obesity (blood, complications, epidemiology, immunology)
• Prevalence
• Young Adult