Dietary patterns and anemia morphology in young men and women in Shandong province, China

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Author : Qingxue Deng, Ting Zhao, Chunxiao Liu, Xiaotong Kuang, Jusheng Zheng, Mark L Wahlqvist, Duo Li
Keyword : dietary pattern, anemia, nutrition, alcohol, menstruation
DOI : 10.6133/apjcn.202009_29(3).0010
Issue : Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2020;29(3):513-522
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Abstract

Background and Objectives: The association between diet and macrocytic and hypochromic anemia in young Chinese men and women remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary pattern and macrocytic and hypochromic microcytic anemia in young Chinese men and women. Methods and Study Design: Some 4,840 first-year students (2,385 men and 2,455 women) were recruited for this study from Qingdao University, China. Biochemical and hematological parameters, and food frequency questionnaires were obtained from the subjects. Based on dietary intake, participants were divided into three dietary patterns: seafood dietary pattern (SDP), vegan dietary pattern (VDP) and omnivorous dietary pattern (ODP). The risks for macro- cytic and microcytic hypochromic anemia in three dietary patterns were assessed. Results: Macrocytic and hypo- chromic anemia were less common in participants who adhered to the omnivorous dietary pattern than to the ve- gan or seafood dietary patterns (p<0.05). Adhering to an omnivorous dietary pattern was negatively associated with macrocytic anemia in men [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.74 (0.62, 0.89), p<0.001] and microcytic, hypochromic anemia in both genders [men: odds ratio (95% CI): 0.64 (0.45, 0.92), p=0.01; women: odds ratio (95% CI): 0.71 (0.51, 0.99), p=0.04]. Conclusions: Adhering to an omnivorous dietary pattern was associated with less common macrocytic anemia in young men and microcytic, hypochromic anemia. Dietary diversity is important in prevent- ing macrocytic anemia in men and also microcytic, hypochromic anemia in young men and women. Excessive al- cohol intake is the most plausible explanation for macrocytosis in the young men.

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