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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Terese E. Maitland, PhD, MPH1, Orlando Gomez-Marin, PhD, MSc2, Dian O. Weddle, RD, PhD3, Lora E Fleming, MD PhD, MPH, MSc4, Fatma G. Huffman, PhD, RD1, and Delois P. Weekes, DNSc, MS, RN5. (1) Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, University Park, School of Health CH201, Miami, FL 33199, 305-567-9888 Ext 244, tmaitland@aol.com, (2) Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami School of Medicine, Highland Park Building, 1801 NW 9th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, (3) National Policy and Resource Center on Nutrition and Aging, Florida International University, P.O. Box OE200/UP, Miami, FL 33199, (4) NIEHS Marine and Freshwater Biomedical Sciences Center, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, (5) Presicent and CEO, Cox College of Nursing & Health Sciences, 1423 N. Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO 65802
Objective: To examine the relationship between health, and calcium and iron intakes by perimenopausal Floridians.
Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect sociodemographic, health and dietary data from a convenience sample of 109 [51% black (Caribbean and African-American) and 49% white] 40 – 55 years old women with intact ovaries and uteri.
Results: Participants had comparable educational and SES levels and mean (± SD) age of 46.80 ± 4.41 years. Many reported iron-deficiency-anemia [32, 30%], heavier menses [36, 33%], and caloric intakes [76, 71%] > Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Diet alone met calcium and iron RDAs for [9, 8%] and [46, 42%], respectively, while diet-plus-supplements did so for [35, 32%] and [71, 65%], respectively. Most participants reported decreased milk [62, 57%] and red-meat [68, 67%] consumption over the past decade. Whereas significantly more black [43, 83%] than white participants [33, 60%] exceeded energy-RDA (p < 0.01), significantly more white [24, 45%] than black [11, 20%] participants met calcium-RDA from diet-plus-supplements (p=0.04).
Conclusion: Decreased consumption of milk and red-meat, key sources of calcium and iron, respectively, may have contributed to sub-optimal mineral intakes. Adequate intakes are critical since heavier menses and bone demineralization occur frequently during perimenopause, increasing risk for osteoporosis and anemia. These findings highlight dietary-supplements’ role and the need for population-specific nutrition education emphasizing adequacy and balance within the context of a low-fat-diet. Given nutrition’s importance to the health and well-being of the increasing numbers of perimenopausal-aged women, this is a national public health priority.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Women's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.