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Postpartum iron status in nonlactating participants and nonparticipants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children^1,2,3,4

¹ From the Department of Nutrition and Food Science and the Biometrics Program, Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park.

Background: Iron deficiency, a pervasive problem among low-income women of childbearing age, threatens maternal health and pregnancy outcomes. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) was designed to alleviate health problems and provides supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, and health care referrals.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the benefits associated with participation in WIC in terms of biochemical tests of postpartum iron status in nonlactating women.

Design: WIC participants (n = 57) and eligible nonparticipants (n = 53), matched by race and age, were followed bimonthly over 6 mo postpartum. Finger stick blood samples (500 µL) were collected for measurement of plasma ferritin, transferrin receptor (TfR), and hemoglobin (Hb).

Results: The mean (±SE) Hb concentration of participants exceeded that of nonparticipants from months 2 through 6. At 6 mo, the mean Hb concentration of participants was significantly higher than that of nonparticipants (8.01 ± 0.12 and 7.63 ± 0.12 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.05) and the prevalence of anemia was significantly lower (17% and 51%, respectively; P < 0.05). TfR and ferritin concentrations (consistently within the reference ranges) and dietary iron intakes did not differ significantly between participants and nonparticipants and were not correlated with Hb concentrations.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that WIC participants were significantly less likely to become anemic if uninterrupted postpartum participation lasted for 6 mo. The lack of correlation among iron status indicators suggests that the lower mean Hb concentration in nonparticipants at 6 mo may not have been related to improved iron status in participants but to other nutrient deficiencies or differences in access to health care and health and nutrition education.

Key Words: Hemoglobin • transferrin receptor • ferritin • anemia • women • WIC • Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women • Infants • Children

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