Anemia and Vitamin B-12 and Folate Status in Women of Reproductive Age in Southern India: Estimating Population-Based Risk of Neural Tube Defects

Julia L Finkelstein; Amy Fothergill; Christina B Johnson; Heather M Guetterman; Beena Bose; Shameem Jabbar; Mindy Zhang; Christine M Pfeiffer; Yan Ping Qi; Charles E Rose; Jennifer L Williams; Wesley Bonam; Krista S Crider

doi:10.1093/cdn/nzab069

Anemia and Vitamin B-12 and Folate Status in Women of Reproductive Age in Southern India: Estimating Population-Based Risk of Neural Tube Defects

Curr Dev Nutr. 2021 Apr 26;5(5):nzab069. doi: 10.1093/cdn/nzab069. eCollection 2021 May.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
² Arogyavaram Medical Centre, Andhra Pradesh, India.
³ St John's Research Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
⁴ National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Abstract

Background: Women of reproductive age (WRA) are a high-risk population for anemia and micronutrient deficiencies. However, there are few representative population-level data from India, which could help inform evidence-based recommendations and policy.

Objective: To conduct a population-based biomarker survey of anemia and vitamin B-12 and folate status in WRA as part of a periconceptional surveillance program in southern India.

Methods: Participants were WRA (15-40 y) who were not pregnant or lactating. Whole blood (n = 979) was analyzed for hemoglobin via a Coulter counter (Coulter HMX). Plasma, serum, and RBCs were processed and stored at -80°C or less until batch analysis. Vitamin B-12 concentrations were measured via chemiluminescence; RBC and serum folate concentrations were evaluated via microbiological assay. Anemia and severe anemia were defined as hemoglobin <12.0 g/dL and <8.0 g/dL, respectively. Vitamin B-12 deficiency and insufficiency were defined as total vitamin B-12 <148 pmol/L and <221 pmol/L, respectively. Folate deficiency and insufficiency were defined as RBC folate <305 nmol/L and <748 nmol/L. A previously developed Bayesian model was used to predict neural tube defect (NTD) prevalence per 10,000 births.

Results: A total of 41.5% of WRA had anemia and 3.0% had severe anemia. A total of 48.3% of WRA had vitamin B-12 deficiency and 74.3% had vitamin B-12 insufficiency. The prevalence of RBC folate deficiency was 7.6%, and 79.3% of WRA had RBC folate <748 nmol/L, the threshold for optimal NTD prevention. Predicted NTD prevalence per 10,000 births based on RBC folate concentrations was 20.6 (95% uncertainty interval: 16.5-25.5).

Conclusions: The substantial burden of anemia, vitamin B-12 deficiency, and RBC folate insufficiency in WRA in this setting suggests an opportunity for anemia and birth defects prevention. Findings will directly inform the development of a randomized trial for anemia and birth defects prevention in southern India.This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04048330.

Keywords: India; NTDs; anemia; folate; periconceptional; surveillance; vitamin B-12.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04048330

Abstract

Associated data

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