This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in women of reproductive age and the association with inflammation, global overweight, adiposity, and menorrhagia. A sample design of women of reproductive age from the Eastern, Central, and Havana Regions was carried out. Biochemical determinations of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors, leukocytes, C-reactive protein, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and homocysteine were performed. Serum ferritin was also adjusted by inflammation. Nutritional status was assessed, and menstrual characteristics were collected by survey. A total of 742 women were studied. The prevalence of anemia was 21.4%, iron storage deficiency at 16.0%, and erythropoietic dysfunction at 5.4%, with inflammation at 47.0% and elevated homocysteine at 18.6%. Global overweight was 46.2% and increased adiposity at 58.4%. Anemia is associated with iron deposition deficiency (OR = 3.023 (1.816–5.033)) and with erythropoietic deficiency (OR = 5.62 (3.03–10.39)), but not with inflammation, global overweight, and adiposity. Global overweight was found to be associated with inflammation (OR = 2.23 (1.41–3.53)). Anemia was associated with heavy menstrual bleeding (OR = 1.92 (1.34–2.76)). Homocysteine was associated with inflammation (OR = 2.05 (1.08–3.90)), but not with anemia. In conclusion, anemia in Cuba is classified as a moderate public health problem, but not iron deficiency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found, associated with inflammation, but not with anemia or iron deficiency. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a factor associated with anemia.

Table 1: Prevalence of iron deficiency and confidence interval by age group, without adjustment and after adjusting for ferritin concentrations in the presence of inflammation n: number of individuals with inflammation; N: number of total individuals in the group. The increase in the cut-off point approach (higher cut-off; AGP + CRP) considers individuals with high […]

INTRODUCTION Ferritin is the best biomarker for assessing iron deficiency, but ferritin concentrations increase with inflammation. Several adjustment methods have been proposed to account for inflammation’s effect on iron biomarker interpretation. The most recent and highly recommended method uses linear regression models, but more research is needed on other models that may better define iron […]

La lactancia materna es la forma óptima de alimentación en las etapas tempranas de la vida. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomienda su práctica continua hasta los 6 meses, preferiblemente exclusiva, y prolongada hasta los 2 años, acompañando a una alimentación complementaria adecuada. Cuba posee una guía alimentaria para el niño menor de 2 años, que indica los momentos oportunos para introducir diferentes alimentos. El objetivo fue describir la alimentación complementaria en infantes lactados a pecho, valorar la seguridad alimentaria y determinar las asociaciones con el estado nutricional mediante indicadores antropométricos del crecimiento y composición corporal. Se realizaron encuestas de seguridad alimentaria y consumo de alimentos en 73 infantes entre 6 y 23 meses de vida, que mantuvieron lactancia materna exclusiva o predominante. El estado nutricional se evaluó por los patrones de la OMS, a partir de mediciones antropométricas, y la estimación de la composición corporal por isótopos estables, con las referencias del Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica. Se realizó el procesamiento estadístico del total de la muestra y por grupos de edad. A pesar de observar inseguridad alimentaria leve en el 46,6% de los infantes, la alimentación fue variada en la mayoría, con un consumo diario de cereales, viandas, pan, lácteos y carnes. Se destacó la adición de aceites en las comidas, consumo de jugos envasados, pero poca representación de frutas y vegetales en su dieta habitual. El estado nutricional fue adecuado en más del 80% de los casos, pero no se asoció con el consumo de alimentos.