Nutritional status of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A and anemia in Mexican children: results from the Ensanut 2018-19

Abstract

Objective: To describe the current status of micronutrient deficiencies (MD) and anemia in Mexican children.

Materials and methods: Serum data from 1 382 pre-school-age chil-dren (1-4 years) and 3 590 school-age children (5-11 years) Ensanut 2018-19 participants were analyzed. Iron deficiency (ID), vitamin B12 deficiency (B12D), vitamin A depletion (VADp), and anemia were identified. Logistic regression models were used to identify associations between socio-demographic characteristics of children and MD.

Results: Anemia was present in 28.9 and 19.2 of the children aged 1-4 and 5-11, respectively; in ID 10 and 5.1; B12D, in 5.1 and 4.8, and VADp, in 4.7 and 4.3. 18.5 of the preschool-age children and 13 of the school-age children had at least one MD associated to anemia.

Conclusions: MD and anemia affect the younger children in larger proportion. Fortification and supplementation programs should be reinforced to avoid the long-term consequences of MD.