JACN Did you know that you can get alerts when a new issue is online?
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McClung, J. P.
Right arrow Articles by Young, A. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McClung, J. P.
Right arrow Articles by Young, A. J.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 25, No. 1, 64-69 (2006)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia among Three Populations of Female Military Personnel in the US Army

James P. McClung, PhD, Louis J. Marchitelli, MS, Karl E. Friedl, PhD and Andrew J. Young, PhD

Military Nutrition Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, Massachusetts

Address reprint requests to: James P. McClung, PhD, Military Nutrition Division, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Natick, MA 01760. E-mail: James.McClung{at}na.amedd.army.mil

Background: Iron deficiency is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency disease in the world and occurs in young women in the United States. Female military personnel represent a unique population faced with intense physical and cognitive demands.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia among three populations of female military personnel in the US Army.

Methods: Iron status was assessed in 1216 volunteers. Volunteers were recruited from three groups: immediately following initial entry to the Army (IET), immediately following basic combat training (AIT), or following at least six months of permanent assignment (PP). Iron deficiency was determined using a three variable model, including cut-off values for serum ferritin, transferrin saturation, and red cell distribution width (RDW). Iron deficiency anemia was categorized by iron deficiency and a hemoglobin (Hgb) value of <12 g/dL.

Results: The prevalence of iron deficiency was greater in women in the AIT group (32.8%) than in the IET and PP groups (13.4 and 9.6%, respectively). The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was greater in the AIT group (20.9%) than in the IET and PP groups (5.8 and 4.8%, respectively). Furthermore, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was greater in Hispanic (21.9%) and African-American military personnel (22.9%) than in Caucasian military personnel (10.5%).

Conclusions: These data indicate that female military personnel experience diminished iron status following training, and that iron nutriture is an important issue facing females in the military.

Key words: military personnel, iron, iron deficiency, anemia




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Nutr.Home page
J. P. McClung, N. E. Andersen, T. N. Tarr, C. H. Stahl, and A. J. Young
Physical Activity Prevents Augmented Body Fat Accretion in Moderately Iron-Deficient Rats
J. Nutr., July 1, 2008; 138(7): 1293 - 1297.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the American College of Nutrition.