Dietary Iron Intake Of Female University Students And Their Iron Store As Future Mothers The Case Of The College Of Natural Sciences.

Iron deficiency (ID) is common single nutrient deficiency of great public health significancernaffecting children, adolescents and women of reproductive age worldwide. Women ofrnreproductive age are at higher risk of developing iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia.rnTherefore, this study was designed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and ironrndeficiency anemia among regular female university students studying at Addis Ababa UniversityrnCollege of Natural Science in relation to their dietary iron intake and iron deficiency risk factors.rnData on socio-demographic, anthropometric and iron deficiency risk factors such as social habits,rnand diseases symptoms, menstrual blood flow, dietary and medical history were collected fromrnfemale students in the College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University. Similarly, a onernweek weighed food record was obtained to estimate energy and micronutrient intake of students.rnIn addition, blood samples were collected from female students (n=45) for analysis ofrnhemoglobin level, serum ferritin, serum soluble transferrin receptor (sTfr) and C-reactive protein.rnThe participants were in the age of 18-23 years old with mean value of 20.35 ± 1.3. In addition,rnthey had body mass index in the range of 18.37-26.03 with mean value of 21.85 ± 1.7,rnsuggesting normal fat-lean mass ratio of the study participants. The majority (95.5%) of presentrnstudy participant consumed coffee and or tea, but had low (24.4%) intake frequency of fruitsrnindicating the habit of consuming iron absorption inhibitors but low consumption of enhancers.rnIn addition, consumption of fruits was recommended to be followed just short time after meal tornsupport iron absorption, however, it was observed that the present study students consume fruitsrnrelatively long time after meal. About 9% of students often experienced heavy menstrual bloodrnflow. On the other hand, 20.0% of students often experienced Amenorrhea. However, neitherrnexcessive blood flow predispose participants for iron deficiency nor the missing of menstrualrncycle were significant (p > 0.05) contributors to preserve hemoglobin or iron status. The majorityrnof the study participants (84.4%) practiced fasting. The common Ethiopian fasting excludesrnanimal source foods. However, in the present study fasting didn’t affect the iron status of thernsubjects. The mean mineral intakes were: Ca (219.32 ± 15.0 mg/day), Zn (3.70 ± 0.3mg/day) andrnFe (18.01 ± 0.8mg/day). In addition, the mean energy intake was 1965.98 ± 86.7kcal/day. Basedrnon the result of dietary weight record, about 91% of participants had inadequate energy and all ofrnthe subjects had inadequate Ca and Zn intake. In addition, carbohydrates contributed the greaterrndaily energy (72.3%) beyond the daily recommended value. On the other hand, the contributionrnof fats (14.4%) for daily energy requirement was low. The mean hemoglobin, sTfr and ferritinrnvalues were: 12.88±1.1g/dl, 2.60±0.3μg/l and 86.40±6.3μg/l, respectively. Only 4.5% of thernparticipants were anemic (low hemoglobin) and had depleted iron store (serum ferritin

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