We assessed the nutritional status of 302 menstruating women living in three urban, semi-rural and rural areas of eastern Algeria. The anthropometric data and the biochemical measurements (serum levels of total proteins, albumin, transferrin and prealbumin) have shown the absence of protein malnutrition and the evidence of problems of overweight, whatever the criterion used (body mass index or relative weight). There were no differences according to the residence. Anemia (defined by WHO references) was observed in 28% of urban women, 19% of semi-rural women and in 32% of rural women. Iron deficiency (defined by the association of serum ferritin level of 12 micrograms/l or less and transferrin saturation less than 15%) was observed in 29, 27 and 22% of the cases, respectively. Folate deficiency (defined by concentration of red blood cell folates of less than 100 micrograms/l) was observed in 48, 45 and 22% of cases, respectively. Finally, 81% of anemia were associated with biochemical evidence of iron and/or folate deficiency.

An iron supplementation trial versus placebo was performed in double blind on 191 attending at 3 month the antenatal clinic of Poissy maternity. Iron status of mothers and newborns was assessed at 3, 5, 7 month, during the delivery and 2 months after the delivery, using biochemical indicators (hemoglobin level, serum ferritin). The compliance was good in 165 pregnant women (86% of the initial sample): 81 in the iron group, 84 in the placebo group. Among the placebo group, anemia (Hb less than 11 g/dl) was observed at the end of the pregnancy in 30% of women. Depletion of iron stores started at 5 month. In the iron group, hemoglobin level increased significantly during the pregnancy and anemia was observed only in 3% of women at the delivery. Iron status of newborns and two months after delivery was related to mothers iron status at delivery and particularly at the 7th month of pregnancy.

El presente es un estudio realizado en 84 mujeres embarazadas que acuden a terminar su embarazo en el Hospital Gineco—Obstétrico “Isidro Ayora” de la ciudad de Quito. Todas las pacientes incluidas en la muestra son primigestas, con embarazo a término, que residen a 2800 metros de altura aproximadamente, sin antecedentes de importancia y que no han recibido suplementos vitamínicos y hierro durante la gestación. Se encontró el 680/0 de mujeres embarazadas con defiencia de hierro y el 45o/o de mujeres con algún grado de anemia.

Additional analysis: association between neighborhood education level and the absolute time of active commuting, N = 537a. (DOCX 12 kb)

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Revue bibliographique et definition des apports alimentaires recommandes en mineraux et oligoelements essentiels. Analyse des concepts correspondant aux termes apports conseilles et recommandes. Les apports recommandes en calcium ont ete legerement augmentes ; les consequences sur les apports alimentaires recommandes en phosphore et en magnesium ont ete prises en compte en respectant un equilibre entre ces divers elements. Les apports recommandes en fer ont ete augmentes pour divers groupes de femmes. Les consequences sur le plan alimentaire sont envisagees. Un tableau general resume l'ensemble des apports recommandes en ces elements

Serum ferritin, haemoglobin, erythrocyte constants, serum iron and the fixation capacity of transferrin were determined in 233 pregnant women consulting a maternity clinic in the Paris area. 1 metropolitan frenchwoman out of 9 and almost half of the immigrants were found to suffer from anaemia at term. A virtual absence of iron reserves (serum ferritin less than microgram/l) was found in 20% of the metropolitan women during the 3rd month of pregnancy, in 60% during the 6th month and in 75% during the 9th month. The figures were 60%, 100% and 90% respectively in the immigrant group. Considering the anaemia-related risks and the eventual repercussions of iron deficiency on a pregnancy, the health of the mother and the foetus, a systematic increase in iron as of the 2nd trimester of pregnancy is recommended.

An evaluation of iron status was performed in 84 pregnant women at delivery (and in cord blood from their newborn) and in a control group of 32 menstruating women living in Quito (2800 m altitude). Anemia as defined according to the WHO references adjusted to altitude was observed in 46% of pregnant women. Iron deficiency was defined as the combination of a low serum ferritin level (12 micrograms/l or less) and a low transferrin saturation percentage (less than 16%). A moderate elevation in the serum ferritin concentration (between 13 and 50 micrograms/l) associated with low transferrin saturation indicated iron deficiency in an inflammatory context. Iron deficiency was present in 46% of pregnant women. Anemia was associated with iron deficiency in 59% of cases. A correlation between maternal and cord blood hemoglobin was found and some iron parameters in cord blood were related to maternal iron status, and especially to maternal iron stores assessed by serum ferritin concentration.

An assessment of iron status was performed on 112 pregnant women at delivery (and on their newborns in 70 cases) and on 114 menstruating women in N'Djamena, Chad. Anaemia (according to the haematocrit value) was observed in 25.0% of pregnant women and in 23.7% of menstruating women. Iron deficiency was defined as the combination of a low serum ferritin level (less than or equal to 12 micrograms/l), a low transferrin saturation (less than 16%) and/or a high erythrocyte protoporphyrin (greater than 3 micrograms/g Hb). A moderate increase in the serum ferritin level (between 13 and 50 micrograms/l) associated with a low transferrin saturation and/or a high erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration indicated iron-deficiency in an inflammatory context. Iron deficiency was present in 66.9% of pregnant women and in 30.7% of menstruating women. Anaemia was associated with iron deficiency in 78.6% of cases in anaemic pregnant women and in 44.4% of cases in anaemic menstruating women. A correlation between maternal and newborn haematopoiesis was found, and some iron parameters in newborns were related to the iron status of mothers.