Nutritional chronic diseases overlap with vitamin and mineral deficiencies in Mexican women with waist perimeter >88cm

Abstract

Recent studies – mostly in children – show that there is a risk of overlapping between overweight and anemia. But, there is no information about the coexistence of other nutritional chronic diseases with vitamins or minerals deficiencies, assessed by biochemical indicators, in childbearing age women. 250 women living in Mexico City (12–49 y, 20% teens) were randomly sampled. They were neither pregnant nor breastfeeding. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed in an intrahospital setting. Diabetes was diagnosed by a 2 h‐75 g glucose load test. Blood samples were taken for lipid profile, hemoglobin, ferritin, vitamins A, B12, C, E, and folate as well as serum iron, zinc and cupper analyses. Differences in nutritional indicators between women with waist perimeter >or <88 cm were evaluated by X2 or Fisher test. Participants belonged to mid‐low socioeconomic level. Women with waist perimeter > 88 cm had significant higher prevalence of glucose intolerance, diabetes, LDL >130 mg/dL, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Concomitantly they had higher risk of anemia and zinc deficiency. The prevalence of folate and vitamins B12, C and E deficiencies were 25, 14, 32 and 45%, respectively, and tended to be higher in obese women (p>0.05). Women with a waist perimeter >88cm should be screened not only for nutritional chronic diseases but nutritional deficiencies, especially of minerals.