Nutritional Iron Status in Pre- and Postmenopause Middle-Aged Women in Kangnung Area

Ryu, Ok Nam; Lee, Sun Hee; Park, Kye Wol; Kim, Eun Kyung

Abstract

The purpose of this study were to assess iron status and obesity in 82 middle aged women living in Kangnung area. Anthropometric measurements were taken for body weight, height, percentage of body fat and circumferences of waist and hip. Venous blood samples were drawn from subjects for measurement of hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), serum iron(Fe), total iron binding capacity(TIBC), transferrin saturation(TS) and serum ferritin. Dietary intakes of iron(heme iron and nonheme iron), the amounts of MPF(meat, poultry and fish) and ascorbic acid were assessed by modified 24-hr recall method. The results obtained are summarized as follows : Postmenopausal women had more body fat than premenopausal women. That is, postmenopausal women tend to be obeser than premenopausal women. There was no difference in Hb, Hct, Fe, TIBC and TS between pre- and postmenopausal women. But the serum ferritin concentration of postmenopausal women(83.7+/-2.1ng/ml) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than premenopausal women(56.4+/-1.0ng/ml). Prevalences of iron deficiency (20%, 20.0% and 17.1% respectively) of postmenopausal women. The mean daily intakes of total iron in pre- and postmenopausal women were 17.5+/-.3mg and 15.6+/-.9mg, respectively. Bioavailabilities of dietary iron were 6.5% and 4.5% in pre- and post-groups. These results indicate that individual dietary guidelines should be used to educate middle-aged women different in status of menopause. For example, premenopausal women should increase nutritional iron status and postmenopausal women should try to prevent obesity.