Micronutrient Intake and Anthropometrics In Geographically Similar Women

Objective: Midlife women are at increased risk for overweight and obesity. Little is known about micronutrient intake and body fat in midlife women, 40-50 years of age in the decade prior to menopause. This study examines micronutrient intake among an ethnically diverse group of community dwelling midlife women and the relationship to waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI), and body fat composition.

Design: A prospective study examined intake of micronutrients from foods in a community-based sample of healthy, regularly menstruating women.

Setting: The largest group of possible subjects was identified through broadcast media approaches (e.g., radio and television public service announcements and special news features). Printed matter, including brochures, fliers, or advertisements, produced the next largest group of possible subjects.

Patients/Participants: They were 40-49 years old and lived in the US for at least 20 years (163 European American, 92 Mexican/Central American Latinas, and 92 African American).

Methods: They completed 3 diet recalls, height and weight for body mass index (BMI), low cholesterol Step II diet questionnaire, and bioelectrical impedance for body fat composition.

Results: The highest income group had significantly lower waist circumference, BMI, body fat composition, and waist-hip ratio. Income, smoking, education, Vitamin D, B6, B12, iron, phosphorus, and fiber intake accounted for 12% of the variance in waist circumference, 14% of the variance in BMI, 15% of the variance for waist-hip ratio, and 13% of the variance in body fat composition. African Americans had larger waist-hip ratios and consume significantly less vitamin D than Caucasians and Latinas.  Caucasians had the highest intake of vitamin D (F_2,335=13.95, p<0.001), and after controlling for race, income, age, currently smoking, and education, only vitamin D was a significant predictor of waist-hip ratio in this sample of premenopausal women. Percent recommended daily allowances of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 intake differed significantly between African American, Caucasian, and Latinas, with African Americans consuming the least ( p<0.05).

Conclusion/Implications for nursing practice: This study demonstrates the importance of micronutrients in the diet of midlife women in the decade prior to menopause, ethnic and racial differences in micronutrient intake, and the role income and education has in dietary intake associated with anthropometric measurements and risk factors for obesity.

Keywords: midlife women, micronutrient, obesity, nutrition